THE future of Clarets' striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos has been thrown into doubt following suggestions of an imminent return to Greece.

Sources in Athens claim crack outfit Panathinaikos have lodged a bid of 350,000 Euros - around £240,000 - for the Greek U21 skipper, who still has a year left on his current deal.

However, Burnley chairman Barry Kilby denied any such offer had been received by the club, who, in the current financial climate, could surely be tempted if it came their way.

Kilby insisted: "We have not had any bid for Dimi. I've heard all the speculation and I took a telephone call myself over the weekend asking for comment, but I have even spoken to Stan Ternent about this and we have heard nothing."

Media reports in Greece state the player is unsettled at Turf Moor and keen on resurrecting his career in his homeland if Burnley accept Panathinaikos' 'offer'.

It goes on to claim new coach Itzhak Shum wants Papadopoulos to challenge Poland's Nigerian-born Emmanuel Olisadebe, Cypriot Michalis Konstandinou and Croatian Goran Vlaovic for a starting role in attack next season.

The striker would also enhance his chances of captaining the Greek U21 side in next summer's Olympic Games, as well as being closer to his family.

Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev are said to be monitoring the situation, but Panathinaikos, who finished runners-up to Olympiakos last season, lead the chase with the lure of Champions League football next season.

The murky politics of Greek football are well documented, but the fact remains that Papadopoulos has struggled to become a regular at Burnley since his £500,000 transfer from Akrititos on a three-year deal in July 2001.

At the time, the Clarets chief insisted the signing was made with one eye firmly on the future.

But following the subsequent implosion of the transfer market, a 50 per cent return on that initial outlay would doubtless prove handy as Ternent looks to splash out on at least five more signings.

Burnley are also well served in terms of striking options, as the likes of top scorer Gareth Taylor, Robbie Blake and Ian Moore are all ahead of Papadopoulos in the pecking order.

He was limited to just six starts last term, the majority of which came once the play-offs were well out of Burnley's reach.

In fact, Papadopoulos has started just nine games in his Burnley career, scoring five goals and being named a substitute a further 37 times.

Meanwhile, Reading last night effectively ended their interest in Clarets winger Glen Little after agreeing a deal for Bristol City's Scott Murray.

Royals' boss Alan Pardew had made no effort to disguise the fact he was interested in signing Little, who spent the final weeks of last season on loan at the Madejski Stadium.

But with Robins winger Murray, 26, set to meet Pardew for talks later this week, any such interest looks over.