According to rumours, PAOK will be turning their attention to signing youngsters that have the potential for a bright future at the club. PAOK’s first transfer target in January 2019 will be securing 18-year-old Xanthi midfielder Dimitris Meliopoulos. With both clubs still negotiating the deal at this point in time, it is unclear whether Meliopoulos will join the club next month in the January transfer period or at the end of the Super League Greece|2018–19 Super League campaign] in June. He did sign for the Thessaloniki club in May 2019, but after not featuring in the new head coach's plans and being told he would be sent on loan, he shockingly announced his retirement from the sport two months later, at the age of just 19. Meliopoulos has been a regular for the Greece U19s national team as a defensive midfielder.