There could soon be a new financial superpower in European football as a member of the Qatari Royal Family is reportedly looking to purchase Serie A outfit Sampdoria.
According to ANSA (via Football Italia), there is an ongoing active negotiation between Khalid Faleh al Thani and Sampdoria about a takeover, and if Sampdoria are backed by the Qatari state they will become one of the richest clubs in the world.
As PSG have shown in recent years, a Qatari takeover can catapult a team to becoming one of the best in the world, and Sampdoria could be on the same trajectory if this investment comes to fruition.
Some of the biggest names world football could soon be heading to Sampdoria, but if this takeover happens and Sampdoria harbour ambitions to challenge for top honours, there’s one deal that may be dead in the water.
Indeed, if Sampdoria want to become perennial challengers for the Scudetto under their new ownership, we can’t see a permanent €25m (£20m) for Harry Winks happening.
Winks is currently on loan with Sampdoria, and while they currently hold the option to buy him for £20m, new owners may have higher ambitions in terms of midfield signings.
With all due respect to Winks, he’s not the type of player you go out and sign if you want to take a football club to the next level, and if this takeover happens, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be at the top of Sampdoria’s shopping list next summer.
Of course, a lot of that may depend on his performances in Serie A this season, but with his loan club currently sitting at the bottom of the Italian league, there probably aren’t many players that these prospective new owners will be desperate to keep hold of.
This proposed takeover could have a real knock-on effect at Spurs, and it’s certainly one to keep an eye on.
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