Is Puerta the midfielder Olympiacos have decided is worth stretching for? | OneFootball

Olympiacos had previously established contact with Racing Santander and explored the feasibility of an expensive operation. SPORT24's latest information moves the story further: the club is now negotiating on both fronts—Racing and the player's side—and describes alternatives as currently secondary.

That suggests recruitment has progressed from identifying a profile to attempting to execute a specific deal.

Puerta's appeal within José Luis Mendilibar's midfield is relatively straightforward. SPORT24 describes Olympiacos as searching less for a conventional No. 6 or No. 8 than for a midfielder capable of performing both functions within the double pivot. That is central to how Mendilibar wants the position to work.

Olympiacos' midfielders have to receive and progress the ball, cover substantial defensive territory, press forward and react immediately when possession is lost. Puerta's running capacity, speed with the ball, progressive instincts and willingness to play vertically fit that demand better than a specialist holding midfielder.

The NEC first leg demonstrated why that matters. When Olympiacos' first pressure was bypassed, the distances behind it became difficult for a less mobile midfield to control. A midfielder capable of defending forward and then carrying possession through the next line would address both phases of that problem.

The price nevertheless changes the evaluation.

A deal above €10 million would make Puerta not just a significant investment by Olympiacos standards, but a record signing. At that level, the club cannot merely be buying useful depth. They would be purchasing a player expected to become an important starter with future resale potential.

The revised Bayer Leverkusen clause helps explain Racing's negotiating position. If Leverkusen receive a large share of Racing's profit, Racing have an obvious incentive to insist on a substantial gross fee.

That also means earlier descriptions of a simple 50-50 ownership split should be treated cautiously.

The strategic calculation for Olympiacos is consequently becoming clearer: spend heavily on a 23-year-old international whose athletic and technical profile fits Mendilibar and whose value can still appreciate, rather than using the same money on an older player with less resale upside.

The key unknown is Racing's threshold which is reported to be close to €20 million after having knocked back a €16 million offer from Bologna.

Direct negotiations do not mean the sides are close enough on valuation to complete the deal. There is still no public evidence of an accepted offer, agreed personal terms or travel arrangements. But this is now more than a scouting-list story.

Olympiacos appear to be actively attempting to buy Gustavo Puerta.