Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne City and Adelaide United have all expressed a strong interest in landing Antonis – who joined PAOK on a two-year deal from Sydney FC but has made just six appearances in all competitions for the Greek high fliers.
It was touted as a dream move for Antonis when he headed to Greece for $500,000 last August, but a succession of injuries have stymied his progress under coach Vladimir Ivic who is looking to offload Antonis ahead of the qualifying rounds for the UEFA Champions League to make room for more high profile signings.
The club have already snapped up Spanish midfielder Jose Alberto Canas from Espanyol with the Champions League in mind, while Antonis, 22, has been left out of the pre-season tour of the Netherlands, where he had the opportunity last week to join an Eredivisie club on loan before the deal fell through.
Sources in Greece claim that PAOK were asking the unnamed club to pay half his wages, with an option to buy him at season’s end. It’s unknown if the same expectations would apply to A-League clubs.
Either way, an A-League return is beckoning for Antonis, who has three Socceroos caps, and needs regular first team football to further press his national team claims – especially after making a combined total just 25 competitive games in the past two seasons.
PAOK's likely asking price of at least $500,000 to sell Antonis would likely spook any A-League club, while a loan deal might work for all parties.
Meanwhile former Western Sydney Wanderers favourite, Dutchman Romeo Castelen, who played 53 games for the over two seasons and scored a hat-trick in the memorable 5-4 semi-final win over Brisbane, has joined K-League side Suwong Bluewings on a two-year deal.
