In a recent report, talkSPORT mentioned that West Ham United have identified Panathinaikos forward Fotis Ioannidis. It has been stated that the Hammers are eyeing a move to bring the Greek striker to the London Stadium next year.
Ioannidis’ Impressive Form In European Football Last Season
The 24-year-old has struggled to be consistent for the Greek club during this campaign but has managed to shine at times for them on the offensive end of the field. Ioannidis has scored just once in 11 matches for Panathinaikos this season across all competitions.
The Greek talent proved himself to be a consistent performer for Panathinaikos in Europe last season when he averaged 3.5 shots, 0.7 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in the UEFA Europa League. He also distributed the ball relatively well after making 74.7% of his attempted passes in European football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Greek club will expire in the summer of 2027 which could make it tough for the Hammers to snap him up on a cut-price deal next year.
Should West Ham United Boss Julen Lopetegui Go For Ioannidis?
Ioannidis can find a yard of space for himself to get some strikes in at goal. He has got the vision to create the odd chance for his teammates in and around the opposition penalty area and is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet.
The Greek centre-forward can even his robust 1.87m frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. However, he is still unproven at the highest level and would need time to settle into the high intensity of Premier League football if the Hammers manage to bring him on board in 2025.
We can expect Ioannidis to add more firepower to West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui’s attack. He has what it takes to fight for a regular first-team spot at the London Stadium in the coming years.
At 24, Ioannidis has his peak years ahead of him which makes him a worthy target for the East London club to consider next year. At the very least, the Greek striker would help the Hammers compete across all fronts in the future. Thus, it makes sense for Lopetegui to go for Ioannidis soon.
