Neftchi Baku renews interest in Apollon Limassol defender Giorgos Malekkidis

Azerbaijani media outlets, specifically Offsideplus.az and Idman.biz, have reported that Neftchi Baku is again interested in signing 28-year-old Cypriot international and Apollon Limassol captain, Giorgos Malekkidis. The interest stems from Neftchi's ongoing efforts to strengthen their squad during the current transfer period. The club reportedly values Malekkidis for his versatility, as he can play both as a left-back and a center-back. This is not the first time the player has been linked to the Azerbaijani club, as similar rumors surfaced last summer without resulting in a formal transfer. Neftchi Baku currently employs Ceesi D'Almeida, a former teammate of Malekkidis who departed Apollon Limassol last summer. Malekkidis is currently under contract with Apollon Limassol for the next season. Consequently, any potential transfer would require a significant financial offer to satisfy the Cypriot club, which views Malekkidis as a key player and captain. No official agreement or formal bid has been confirmed at this time.