Brentford are reportedly close to completing a deal for Mikkel Damsgaard, star of Euro 2020 and former target of both Liverpool and Tottenham.
The 22-year-old was hot property following his displays for Denmark in the European Championships last summer, in which he scored against England and grabbed a further goal and assist en route to the semi-finals.
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Both Spurs and Liverpool were thought to be keen, but Massimo Ferrero – who was Sampdoria president at the time (before being forced to step down after being arrested as part of an investigation into corporate crimes) – said that only a “super offer” would be considered for Damsgaard.
Ferrero said: “Damsgaard? A super offer would have to be evaluated, but Sampdoria is not a discount store.
“Why shouldn’t I keep him? I repeat, if a super offer comes in, we have to evaluate it as we all do, but I certainly won’t sell him off because nobody takes a Euro off for us when we buy. Sampdoria is not a discount store; that’s why I get angry when they say I exaggerate with the requests for my players.”
It was reported then that the Italian club’s valuation of the Denmark international was around the €40m mark, but that’s dropped to just €15m following an injury-hit season for the Serie A side.
Damsgaard – who moved to Sampdoria from Nordsjaelland for £6m in the summer of 2020 – managed just 11 Serie A appearances having been ruled out for the majority of the season with a thigh injury picked up in October.
Brentford smell a bargain, and are now ‘closing on’ the playmaker, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The transfer expert tweeted: ‘Brentford are now closing on Mikkel Damsgaard deal. Fee expected to be around €15m with add-ons. Talks are progressing with Sampdoria, still in discussion on player side.
Romano added that despite the deal not yet being fully completed, Brentford are ‘optimistic to get it over the line’.
Thomas Frank’s side have spent £32m this summer, with winger Keane Lewis-Potter joining for £17m from Hull and left-back Aaron Hickey arriving in a £15m move from Bologna
They’ve also landed goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha from Lazio and experienced centre-back Ben Mee from Burnley, both on free traansfers.
Damsgaard could be a replacement for compatriot Christian Eriksen, who opted to join Manchester United over a return to Brentford after a successful short-term spell with the London side last term.
