There was no confirmation that Panathinaikos submitted a 4 million euro proposal through an intermediary for Ayoub El Kaabi, a 32-year-old Moroccan centre-forward. However, a delay in his contract renewal with Olympiacos amplified online speculation about this rumor. The negotiations for a new deal with his club reportedly extended for over three months, with disagreements concerning the duration of the contract and the balance between his fixed salary and performance-related bonuses. The striker, who has 32 goals in 67 caps for Morocco, has scored 15 goals in 20 league appearances this season and has been linked with several clubs, including Al Nassr. In December 2025, Olympiacos reportedly rejected a €5 million bid from Nantes and set a minimum asking price of €12 million, while other reports in January 2026 suggested a fee of around €4-5 million.