Crystal Palace are now considering a move to sign Konstantinos Koulierakis from VfL Wolfsburg.
That is according to Waz-Online, the digital page for a prominent local newspaper in Wolfsburg named Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung.
Local outlets are typically quite reliable – we still recall when Basque organisation Noticias de Gipuzkoa broke the news of Alexander Isak signing for Newcastle out of nowhere – so there could be something in this link.
Considering Koulierakis is yet to become a household name in football, many Crystal Palace fans may not know much about the Greece international, so let’s take a closer look at what the 22-year-old could do for the Eagles if a move materialises.
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Meet Konstantinos Koulierakis: The new Josko Gvardiol?
Crystal Palace have already been linked to a number of defenders as Chelsea pursue Maxence Lacroix – who we ironically signed from VfL Wolfsburg for £18m in August 2024 – with Chrislain Matsima and Tiago Gabriel the most prominent names in the media right now.
However, Koulierakis could be the best of the bunch.
The official Bundesliga website liken the VfL Wolfsburg No.4 to Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol, who made his name in Germany with RB Leipzig before sealing an £77.6m move to England in August 2023.
They state that the pair are similar due to their ‘impressive recovery pace’ and also because Koulierakis is ‘a reliable passer of the ball’ – along with their strength in physical duels.
The Crystal Palace target is even nicknamed ‘The Hammer’ in Germany due to his physical strength.
The Greece international is a real threat in the final third too. In 73 appearances for PAOK – where he played before sealing a £10m move to VfL Wolfsburg in August 2024 – Koulierakis scored nine goals and provided five assists, an exceptional return for a defender.
The left-footed Koulierakis also scored four goals in 29 Bundesliga outings last term, along with one assist.
VfL Wolfsburg have the Greek star under contract until July 2029 – so they are in a strong negotiating position should formal negotiations with Crystal Palace begin.
- Full name: Konstantinos Koulierakis
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 28 November 2003
- Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
- Nationality: Greek
- Place of birth: Chania
- Club: VfL Wolfsburg
- Position: Centre-back
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