Juventus will carefully monitor how Mikkel Damsgaard performs at Sampdoria this season as they plot a 2022 move for the rumoured Tottenham Hotspur target, per Calciomercato.
The Bianconeri want to continue lowering the average age of Massimiliano Allegri’s squad in the coming transfer windows. The past year marked a change in strategy for the Turin outfit as they moved away from signing those over the age of 30.
Moves were considered for 32-year-old Axel Witsel and 31-year-old Miralem Pjanic, but neither were signed. CEO Maurizio Arrivabene is responsible for the change in direction, wanting to invest only in younger options. The ex-Ferrari team boss also wants to avoid the Allianz Stadium side spending excessively, after helping to slash their mammoth wage bill.
Juventus will carefully monitor long-time target Damsgaard, plus Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic, this season, both of whom Tottenham also admire. Sky Italia reported Spurs were ready to bid for Vlahovic after missing out on Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez this summer.
Meanwhile, La Repubblica, via Calciomercato, claimed Tottenham also bid €20m (£17m) for Damsgaard. But Sampdoria owner Massimo Ferrero wanted €40m (£34m) for the Denmark international, after he excelled at Euro 2020.
Should Tottenham now revive their interest in Damsgaard next year, they could face rival interest from Champions League contenders Juventus. AC and Inter Milan also admire the 21-year-old, who Arrivabene feels fits the Bianconeri’s new remit for age and potential.
Juventus could prove to be a tricky challenger, too, as the Turin giants have repaired their fractured relationship with Sampdoria. They are now on good terms with Ferrero after loaning Mohamed Ihattaren and Radu Dragusin to the Blucerchiati this summer.
Should Tottenham revive their interest in Juventus target Damsgaard?
Juventus repairing their relationship with Sampdoria will hinder Tottenham’s chances of edging their interest in Damsgaard, should they bid again. Spurs Managing Director Fabio Paratici, formerly of the Bianconeri, will likely also have to increase their offer for a deal.
Ferrero will be firm in his valuation of the nine-cap winger – who assisted against Scotland on Wednesday night. Damsgaard additionally netted twice and assisted once as a leading protagonist as Denmark reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
Damsgaard is yet to score or assist in three appearances for Sampdoria this season under new manager Roberto D’Aversa. He offered two goals and four assists in 37 outings across all competitions last term with Claudio Ranieri in charge. The former Leicester boss also lauded the Jyllinge native as a ‘child prodigy’, via Sos Fanta, in February.
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