Sampdoria are holding on tight as Mikkel Damsgaard continues to impress with Denmark at EURO 2020, but the giants are lurking and the Blucerchiati might not resist a huge offer this summer.
President Massimo Ferrero continues to insist the 21-year-old is ‘not for sale’ but added that an offer that would ‘excite’ sporting director Carlo Osti.
Damsgaard was signed for €7m from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark one year ago and his value has sky-rocketed during his time with the Blucerchiati.
Already last winter he was linked with big clubs like Milan, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, including other giants across Europe.
Damsgaard played 37 competitive games in his first season with Sampdoria, scoring twice and contributing four assists, but his quick feet and dribbling skills ensured he was quickly noticed in the League.
The youngster, capped nine times by Denmark, has already scored five times for the national team, including a screamed from a free kick against England in the semi-finals of EURO 2020 on Wednesday night.
Damsgaard had already played 93 games with Nordsjaelland before moving to Serie A, scoring 13 times and contributing 21 assists for the Superligaen team.
The winger has himself said he has studied Inter midfielder Christian Eriksen, whom he replaced at the Euros when the former Tottenham player suffered a cardiac arrest in the opening game of the European Championship.
“I studied many details of his game and how he finds spaces. I’ve tried to include him in my game since I was little. Then it was crazy to be able to play with him in the national team and see how he trains,” Damsgaard said.
But a future with colleagues at Eriksen’s level is almost certain for the youngster, as he continues to be sought after by the big clubs in Europe and his performances during the Euros will have both increased his value and the interest.
Amid the links to big clubs like Barcelona and Tottenham, Ferrero told Il Secolo XIX the price-tag could rise to €40m for the youngster.
The patron said he expected Damsgaard to perform at the European Championship this summer and stressed he is not for sale.
“Either they bring something that makes [sporting director Carlo] Osti excited, or he won’t be sold,” Ferrero said at a press conference. “It’s no longer the same as before, when one offer arrived, and we would sell the player.
“Now we want to make another stand. We want to keep the footballer, we want to enjoy him.”
The rumours regarding the young Dane will not vanish anytime soon.