When you have a newly-promoted Premier League club threatening to beat a champion of a major European league to a potential £25 million signing, you can see why other leagues across the continent are a little uneasy about the riches on offer in England.
Back in the summer of 2023, Rangers and Old Firm rivals Celtic were both linked with a striker who, at a reported £9 million, would likely have been out of their reach anyway. Financially speaking, of course.
Flash forward just 12 months, and that very same centre-forward may be on his way to the other side of Hadrian’s Wall for a fee three times that size.
Then again, while Fotis Ioannidis’ price-tag has increased three-fold, so too has his goals tally. Ioannidis’ £9 million asking price felt more than a little ambitious after he finished the 2022/23 season with just seven in all competitions.
The suddenly free-scoring Greek international netted 23 in 2023/24, however, firing Panathinaikos to Greek Cup glory.
Former Rangers target could move to Premier League
“I am completely committed to Panathinaikos during this time, and I don’t care at all what is written or heard,” Ioannidis told Esquire during the business end of last term, albeit while admitting that he would be open to a fresh start abroad.
“When I was little, I had a dream to play for a foreign team.
“Theoretically always, I feel like I would fit in anywhere (in any foreign league), without saying it arrogantly. Competitively, I believe I can adapt.”
There is interest from Sporting Lisbon. The champions of Portugal.
According to Sport Time, Ipswich Town have submitted an offer of their own, however. One that would make Ioannidis comfortably the most expensive signing in their history, promotion via a second-place finish giving Kieran McKenna’s side access to riches they could not have even dreamed off when muddling around mid-table in the third-tier a few years back.
Ipswich, who have former Rangers defender George Edmundson in their ranks, have reportedly seen an opening bid of £18.5 million rejected. A new and improved offer of £25 million could be enough to twist Panathinaikos’ arm, however.
Ioannidis is certainly not averse to trying his hand in English football either, his comments a further blow to Sporting’s chances.
23 goals for Panathinaikos last season
“As a league, I like the Premier League more and then the (German) Bundesliga,” the 11-time Greek international added. “When I was 10 years old that we visited Anfield (in Liverpool) with my father and I was impressed.
“I loved the stadium and everything I experienced there.”
Who knows, perhaps Ioannidis will be returning to Anfield next term. As a player this time, in the deep blue of Ipswich Town.
For Rangers, meanwhile, they are once again in the market for a centre-forward. Albion Rrahmani, the £5 million Rapid Bucharest talisman, has already been at the centre of discussions between his agent and Ibrox director Nils Koppen.
According to the Scottish Sun, Rangers have made a £1.5 million bid for FAR Rabat attacker Hamza Igamane too.
