Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will need to put his famed negotiation tactics to use after a huge fee was placed on a top transfer target of Jose Mourinho.
Mikkel Damsgaard has burst onto the scene in Serie A this season after joining Sampdoria from Nordsjaelland in Denmark over the summer.
A winger, he has started 10 games and made a further 10 appearances as a substitute. So far, he has scored two goals and provided four assists.
Hence, the fee of just over €6m that Sampdoria paid to sign him is already looking like a shrewd investment. However, his stay in Genoa looks likely to be a short one with interest from Tottenham mounting. Indeed, reports earlier this week claimed Spurs were taking ‘serious steps’ to sign the winger with Mourinho ‘crazy’ about the Dane.
It was believed at the time that Damsgaard could be prized away from Samp for a fee of around €20m. That fee would represent a 200% profit for the cash-strapped Serie A side and would neither pose a problem for Spurs.
However, as per Todofijaches, Samp have responded to Tottenham’s apparent interest by raising the asking price for Damsgaard to ‘at least €30m’. That is some way north of the figure Spurs initially thought he’d be valued at.
All though is not lost for Spurs. It’s claimed Spurs believe the Italians are willing to sell the player for the right price. As such, Spurs chairman Levy will hope to drive down his price to nearer their valuation.
With Juventus also apparently showing interest, Samp will hope to use the double interest to drive up Damsgaard’s fee.
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Damsgaard signing could impact Gareth Bale
A left winger by trade, Damsgaard can operate comfortably on either flank.
His versatility is said to appeal to Mourinho. However, the Dane’s arrival will place further doubts Gareth Bale’s long-term future at Spurs.
Bale arrived back at Spurs in the summer on season-long loan from Real Madrid, seven years after he left for the Bernabeu.
His return was met with much fanfare, but his performances have been disappointing and his game time limited.
Amid talk the player will be sent back to Real Madrid this summer, the absent Bale also came in for criticism from Mourinho on Wednesday night.
Indeed, it’s suggested Damsgaard is seen as Mourinho’s dream signing to replace Bale in his side.
His former Wales manager Chris Coleman, however, has warned against writing Bale off too soon.
“He’s been out for a long time and he’s finding it hard to get back in and get his rhythm,” Coleman told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
“We all know what a world-class player he is. He can win a game, he can score a goal from nothing, he’s got a last pass.
“He’s only 31 so I wouldn’t write him off. I don’t know what’s happened at Tottenham. But knowing Gareth, he’s a very serious boy about his football and he loves playing football.
“I’ve heard comments that maybe he’ll be happy to be on the bench. He won’t be happy on the bench – not the Gareth Bale that I know.
“He will very much want to be in the heart of it and if he’s not quite there yet. He’s either not ready physically or maybe mentally there’s a lack of confidence.”
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James Marshment
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