Panathinaikos captain Dimitrios Kourbelis is at the centre of a Celtic vs Rangers battle, ahead of Sunday's League Cup Final, with reports in Greece suggesting both clubs are trying to sign the international midfielder for next season.
The 29-year-old is out of contract with the Athens giants at the end of the season and has yet to agree on a new deal, with it looking increasingly unlikely he will extend his seven-year stint at the club.
And both Celtic and Rangers are among the clubs interested in snapping up Kourbelis, who can play as a central defender or a central midfielder, once his contract expires.
Kourbelis battled back from being out for 14 months a couple of years ago following a hip injury and has returned to become a key player for Panathinaikos.
He's been capped 30 times for Greece, but seems set to leave for new challenges at the end of the season.
Relations with his club took a turn for the worse earlier this month when he was sent off in a match against Asteras Tripoli when he received two yellow cards within seven minutes and was fined £20,000 by Panathinaikos for his actions.
Panathinaikos first offered him a new three-year deal back in November, but no agreements have been reached and both Celtic and Rangers have been named in Greece as leading the chase for the experienced player.
Meanwhile, both Michael Beale and Ange Postecoglou have stressed how important a victory could be for their sides on Sunday in the League Cup final.
Beale said: “We want to win the League Cup, we want to win all the cups in front of us, but that is not ultimately why I am here,” said Beale, who revealed “no real positive news” about injured trio Malik Tillman, John Lundstram and Ryan Jack.
“I am here to win the league and we are behind in that.
“Our form has been very good, their form has been very good as well so we have not been able to cut the points gap. There is still lots of football to be played.
“Of course we want to win the League Cup but there is bigger things in my mind after that and it is part of ticking a box in terms of where I ultimately want to take us.
“After this weekend, we have a lot of work to do regardless of the outcome.
“This is a one-off game, a cup final between two rivals and both teams will go head-to-head.
“But come Monday morning, whatever the outcome, I still have a big job to do."
Postecoglou said: “For me it is (easy) because it has been my job for 26 years.
“When a pilot lands a plane he knows what he is doing.
“You are not making it up as you go along so I like to think that after 26 years I know what I am doing.
“I am still a human being. I am not happy when we don’t win and I am delighted when we do.
“I guess what I am talking about is that part of being a fan is allowing yourself to lose yourself in moments whether good or bad.
“If you want to shout abuse you have to do that, if you want to be in delirium because you have won something you are allowed to be that.
“But I don’t think that’s what they expect from their manager. Our supporters don’t expect me to have the same emotions going into a big game like this.
“They want me to be clear-headed out there to make the right decisions and try to prepare the team in the best possible way.
“But I am very, very passionate, I don’t take defeat well, I do love winning.”
