Celtic may need to break Panathinaikos’ transfer record this summer if they wish to sign striker Fotis Ioannidis.
That’s according to Gazzetta, while Sport Time insist neither the striker nor the club will be rushing into any deal for him in the coming months as Brendan Rodgers’ side monitor him.
A report yesterday brought Celtic into the mix for Ioannidis, naming them among a host of clubs eyeing up the striker, who has 21 goals in all competitions to date.
That report made it clear he would cost around €15m but Gazzetta argue against that today, instead debating that Ioannidis could demand a record transfer fee this summer.
They say that the striker’s amazing season and ‘terrifying performances’ are helping to ‘lay the foundations’ for a record transfer.
As far as they’re concerned it is no coincidence that a new interested team arrives every day for the striker, with Celtic the latest to show an interest in him.
They, among others, seem willing to pay to get his signature but the quoted fee may not be enough, and Panathinaikos are ‘certainly talking about a double-digit’ number.
They’re even thinking that it may take a record price to get their star man, with the current one the €19.6m Wolves paid to sign Daniel Podence. That may cause concern for Celtic.
The bar has currently been set at €20m, but it can certainly go higher given Ioannidis is protected by a deal until 2027.
Sport Time also argue that he and Panathinaikos are in no rush to talk to potential buyers for the striker either.
They say that while he is ‘driving Greece crazy’ there is a general sense of calm around the club as Celtic and others line up.
Instead, the Greek club will almost certainly come out and say the striker is not for sale and may even try to offer him a deal. The view is that neither approach can do any harm so they might as well.
They’re not in a hurry to discuss a deal for the player and he is on the same wavelength as well, which is ‘good for everyone’. As a result, while they’re expecting a busy and difficult summer, a transfer away cannot be considered certain.
The stance from Greece seems to be Celtic, and indeed any others, will need to put a record sum on the table and then work hard on convincing the player and club if they want to lure Ioannidis away this summer.
