Leicester City have joined a hotly-contested transfer chase for Panathinaikos striker Fotis Ioannidis, according to reports in Greece.

Centre-forward Ioannidis, aged 24, has been linked with a big money move this summer after scoring 23 times last season, far and away the most prolific campaign of his career to date.

Links have come thick and fast, with reports that Bologna, Lille, Sporting Lisbon and Celtic, as well as Fulham and West Ham, have all shown serious interest in the 11-time capped Greece international. It is Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town who have seemed at the front of the chase in the last fortnight or so, with claims that bids of around £19m and £21m have been rejected.

Now new reports from Greece claim a further bid which would “shake the bank in the air” could tempt Panathinaikos to loosen their grip on the striker, who was linked with Nottingham Forest before Steve Cooper’s time in charge there. And it’s Leicester who are said to be working out if they can afford to make it happen this summer.

SDNA report: “Another club from the Premier League is focusing on the Panathinaikos bomber and all that this will entail. Leicester are carefully and thoroughly examining all data on Ioannidis and whether it is possible to buy him in the current transfer window.

“It should be noted that the Foxes got a live taste of the Greek ace during the last season, personally checking his performances and saving his name in their agenda.”