Panathinaikos had shown interest in Zuriko Davitashvili, a 25-year-old winger. A report, citing Greek-French agent circles, stated that the Georgian had conditionally agreed to the prospect of joining the club. However, Saint-Étienne, who had been relegated, were only prepared to discuss a loan deal that included a one million euro loan fee and a mandatory purchase option valued at over 7,000,000 euros. The French club had spent 6 million euros to acquire the player from Bordeaux the previous summer. Davitashvili has 54 caps and 7 goals for Georgia, is under contract until 2028, and has a current Transfermarkt market value of €10.00m. Several other clubs, including LOSC Lille, Beşiktaş, and Everton, have also been linked with him. In May 2026, reports indicated Saint-Étienne was asking for €15 million, while in January 2026, Olympiacos reportedly made a verbal offer of €10.5 million plus €3 million in bonuses.