Greek giants now linked with Erol Bulut move as Cardiff City boss asked about other offers

Greek giants Panathinaikos are the latest team to be linked with a move for Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut.

The Bluebirds boss saw his side thrashed 5-2 on Saturday in the final game of the season – and, at the time of writing, the last game of the manager’s contract.

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan has agreed to begin talks over a new contract for Bulut but a deal is still some way off.

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Bulut wants guarantees not only over the transfer budget but also over the length of his contract and the ability to bolster his coaching staff and the club’s recruitment department.

Bulut has been named in Turkish media as a potential candidate for the Besiktas job after they decided to part ways with former Portugal coach Fernando Santos. Bulut has refused to be drawn into those particular links.

However, Turkish sports newspaper Fotospor now claims that Panathinaikos could make a move for Bulut this summer. Reports in Greece – and elsewhere – suggest that current boss Fatih Terim will step down from his position as coach and fellow Turkish player Bulut could fit the bill.

Fotospor reports that a meeting has already been held with Panathinaikos president Giannis Alafouzos and Bulut’s camp over a potential deal. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.

The 49-year-old City boss is considered an attractive prospect for Panathinaikos due to his experience in Greek football with Panionios, Olympiacos, Olympiacos Volos, OFI Crete and Veria as a player. Bulut’s No.2 Nikolaos Karydas is also Greek, while his goalkeeping coach Mario Galinovic played for Panathinaikos between 2004 and 2011, racking up over 100 appearances for the club. Galinovic was also the club’s goalkeeping coach between 2015 and 2017.

Bulut, however, has said more than once that he is happy in the Welsh capital and has overseen a dramatic rise in results this season which has seen Cardiff secure 12th place in the Championship, an improvement of nine places on last season.

There have been difficult stretches along the way and fans have questioned the style of football and some of the team’s selections and substitutions. However, Cardiff are keen to move forward and secure a deal for Bulut to be reappointed.

Bulut was asked directly on Saturday whether there was any interest in sourcing his services elsewhere, to which he replied: “No comment. You can answer for yourself – take that as a yes or a no!”

“But I’ve said it many times, I would like to build here.”

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Bulut will now return to Istanbul and spend some time with his family, having not seen his wife and children for some time. There is hope that a decision, one way or another, will be made quickly so that the club can move forward with plans for the 2024/25 season and ensure they are not caught out.

On the latest news regarding his own future, he said after the defeat to the Millers: “We have had positive talks with the chairman, Mehmet (Dalman), but so far I don’t have anything clear to say. Now we are at a point, maybe it will take a few days for the club. I don’t know.

“Mehmet knows the situation and I hope he has a meeting with Vincent Tan. If the plan is to continue with me, from my side it is clear, I said I don’t want to be a guest again, I want to be part of the family.

“I believe we can build much better things here. Not only do I sign and everything is done, or the young people do well, in some areas we have to build. It’s not just one person who can build.

“It shouldn’t take too long because I have to make plans for my career and Cardiff have to make plans.”