Fotis Ioannidis may not sign a new contract at Greek giants Panathinaikos with Scottish Premiership champions Celtic eyeing the striker, according to Sportime.
Ioannidis has more assists than goals this season. Perhaps this is an indication of what the Greece international could bring to Parkhead.
The 23-year-old is far from the most clinical number nine in world football. But what he lacks in ruthlessness, Ioannidis makes up for in work-rate and selflessness.
Perhaps in a manner similar to that of Olivier Giroud for France – or Wout Weghorst at Carabao Cup champions Manchester United perhaps – Ioannidis’ physicality and link-play could give an extra dimension to Ange Postecoglou’s already multi-faceted frontline.
The prospect of Ioannidis opening up space for Kyogo Furuhashi – scorer of two more goals in Sunday’s League Cup final victory over Rangers – is potentially mouth-watering, to say the least.
Celtic are fans of Greece international Fotis Ioannidis
Celtic, SportDay say, have been scouting Ioannidis for a number of years. The time to strike may soon be approaching too; his contract at Panathinaikos expiring in the summer of 2024. The green-clad number seven, Sportime add, is having ‘second thoughts’ about putting pen to paper on a new deal too.
A move to a more high-profile division would not only boost his bank balance, but his reputation too. Compatriots Vangelos Pavlidis and Anastasios Douvikas, for instance, have taken their games to a whole-new level in the Dutch Eredivisie, with AZ Alkmaar and FC Twente respectively.
It is not certain how much Panathinaikos want for Ioannidis. They accepted a £2 million bid from Parma 13 months ago before backing out of the deal. A reduced offer may be considered now, as his contract runs down.
“(Ioannidis) is the ultimate example that whoever works hard will always be rewarded,” writes SportDog reporter Kostas Goulis.
“No matter how difficult the path, Fotis Ioannidis is a player who will give everything he has. He doesn’t leave anything on the field.”
Ioannidis, in all competitions, has three goals and four assists. Panathinaikos are two points clear of AEK Athens at the top of the Greek Super League.
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