Ipswich have already had a significant bid turned down in an attempt to bring a Celtic target to Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys are gearing up for life in the Premier League after Kieran McKenna led them to a second-place finish in the Championship last season, and there is money to spend.
Ipswich have been denied a large bid for a player who Celtic are also interested in signing.
Ipswich have Fotis Ioannidis bid rejected
According to SPORT24 in Greece, Panathinaikos rejected Ipswich’s €25 million (£21 million) approach for Fotis Ioannidis.
It comes after Calciomercato reported that Celtic are also interested in signing the Greek international.
Ioannidis has become a target for both the Tractor Boys and the Hoops following a standout 2023/24 season in which he scored 23 goals and assisted nine times in 44 games.
SPORT24 that Panathinaikos has rejected the £21 million proposal after rejecting Ipswich’s original offer of €22.5 million (£19 million).
The Greek giants have since informed Ipswich, Sporting CP, Bologna, Lazio, and Girona that Ioannidis will not be sold this summer.
Celtic surely out of the race
Ipswich, boosted by Premier League finances, may be able to make a better deal for Ioannidis and tempt Panathinaikos, but this transfer story is most likely over for Celtic.
Celtic’s current record acquisition is Odsonne Edouard from PSG for £9 million in June 2018, thus a transfer worth more than £20 million appears unlikely this summer.
It would take a large financial investment from Celtic Park’s boardroom, but it might mean Brendan Rodgers has no cash left to boost other sections of the squad.
As a result, we would anticipate Celtic to withdraw from this transfer war after Ipswich increased their bid to £21 million and still failed.
