Fotis Ioannidis of Greece (R) in action against Nathan Ake of the Netherlands during the UEFA EURO 2024 group B qualification round match between Greece and the Netherlands in Athens, Greece, 16 October 2023. EPA-EFE/Georgia Panagopoulou (Bologna transfer links)
epa10922630 Fotis Ioannidis of Greece (R) in action against Nathan Ake of the Netherlands during the UEFA EURO 2024 group B qualification round match between Greece and the Netherlands in Athens, Greece, 16 October 2023. EPA-EFE/Georgia Panagopoulou

Bologna have been linked with moves for both Panathinaikos striker Fotis Ioannidis and Toulouse centre-forward Thijs Dallinga as potential options to replace the recently departed Joshua Zirkzee, who has recently signed for Manchester United in the Premier League.

Bologna interest in Ioannidis and Dallinga

According to Tuesday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ioannidis is the most enticing option for the Rossoblu. The club have reportedly offered a sum of €22m plus up to €3m in additional bonuses, although they could be prepared to go even higher to bring the Greek international to Serie A.

There has also been interest from both Sporting CP, who offered around €20m for Ioannidis, and from newly-promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town, who reportedly offered €30m, but the player himself turned down those approaches.

Bologna directors reportedly sat down for a meeting on Monday and deemed it necessary to make around €6m-€8m more available for summer transfers, although that extra financial boost will likely be spread among multiple positions, rather than just for a centre-forward.

Elsewhere, Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport Italia suggest that Toulouse forward Dallinga is also a potential option for Bologna this summer.

He is coming off two particularly strong seasons in France, having scored 26 goals from 69 league appearances, as well as six from six in the Coupe de France in 2022-23, plus an additional four from eight in the Europa League last term.

Dallinga is also expected to cost a similar amount to Ioannidis, who is one year his senior.

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