Ipswich Town may have been handed a small boost in their efforts to sign Panathinaikos forward Fotis Ioannidis, as their latest rejected bid has scared off Sporting Club de Portugal.
That’s according to Record, who report that Sporting, and specifically president Frederico Varandas have ‘decided to move away’ from the player.
Reports earlier today from Greece explained that Ipswich Town had made a new an improved €25m offer for Ioannidis today, which had been quickly rejected by Panathinaikos.
They appear to now be determined to keep hold of the player, despite having previously indicated to Ipswich and other suitors that they would be open to negotiating a deal.
That stance has changed and it seems Ipswich’s latest bid to sway them has instead chased off Sporting.
Record explain that the €25m offer, plus Ipswich’s willingness to leave 15% of a future transfer with Panathinaikos is too rich for Sporting to stomach, never mind the fact the Greek side want more than that.
That ‘tightening of the rope’ has effectively scared the Portuguese club off and Varandas and his team have decided to move away.
The possibility of them resuming talks with Panathinaikos has not been completely ruled out but their interest has certainly waned, and a move is now not on the cards, perhaps giving Ipswich their chance to push ahead.
