Rangers rivals reject mega transfer offer as star man kept for Champions League bid

Daily Record

3 days ago

Panathinaikos has told suitors they have no intention of selling anyone until after they face the Light Blues
Panathinaikos have turned down a huge £17million offer from Fiorentina for striker Fotis Ioannidis.
The Greek giants have booted out the mega offer as they want him to fire the club to Champions League glory against Rangers.
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The Ibrox men meet the Greek side in the second qualifying round with the first leg in Glasgow before the return showdown between the pair at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
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Panathinaikos have received plenty of interest from clubs across Europe after Ioannidis netted 15 goals for club and country, including in Greece's last outing in a clash with Bulgaria.
Serie A side Fiorentina were the first club to follow up their interest with a concrete bid for the 25-year-old of £17m.
But reports in Greece have indicated Panathinaikos have informed the Italians they no intention of selling anyone until they play their two-legged tie with Rangers.
They have already snapped up three players for the new campaign - ex-Liverpool midfielder Pedro Chirivella, defender Georgios Kyriakopoulos from Monza and fellow stopper Ahmed Touba from Turkish side Basaksehir.
And they have made it clear they want their star striker Ioannidis available for the games against Russell Martin and Co as both begin their journey to try and dine at Europe's top table in the upcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, FC Twente star man Michel Vlap has become the third influential figure at the club to beg their former captain Robin Propper to leave Rangers and return to them.
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The Light Blues defender has been offered a three-year deal to make the return to the Eredivisie outfit - just 12 months after his move to Ibrox.
They are pulling out all the stops to tempt him to return to his old stomping ground after a disappointing first season in Glasgow.
Propper has reportedly put the move on hold until he discovers whether new boss Martin sees him as part of his plans at his new-look Rangers.
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A new regime is underway at Ibrox with the players back on the grass at the Rangers Training Centre while the 49ers Enterprises have also completed their takeover with Max Aarons the first official arrival after Lyall Cameron had already penned a pre-contract.
Within the last week, Twente sports director Jan Streuer revealed Propper would be very welcome to return amid reports they had already agreed a £1.5 million fee with Rangers.
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And the club's manager Joseph Oosting then added that he had spoken with the stopper in a bid to persuade him to re-sign for his former employers.
Now midfielder Vlap has added his voice to the campaign to sign Propper.
He said: "Robin is a top player and personality, everyone would be happy if he were to come here again,"
But Streuer admitted they are still waiting for an answer.
He said: "We have to wait and see whether Robin wants to go himself. He wanted to go abroad and has only been there for a year.
"If he sees a chance to stay, it could also be that his preference lies there. We don't know yet."