Sampdoria are now desperate to sell Omar Colley amid speculation linking the powerhouse defender with Celtic, Liverpool, Fulham and more, as reported by CalcioNews24.
Almost every club in Italy has been hit hard in the pocket by an ongoing financial crisis and Juventus, who are struggling to finance Cristiano Ronaldo’s mammoth wages without even a shred of matchday income, are not alone.
“(Sampdoria) wants to sell,” Colley’s agent, Cheikh Fall, told CalcioNews24 in October, admitting that Sheffield United and Fulham had made an approach for the Gambia international late in the summer window.
With so little time before the transfer deadline, the Blades and the Cottagers could not overcome those work permit problems at the eleventh hour.
But with January just a few weeks away, expect the £11 million-rated Colley to return to the gossip columns before too long.
Especially with cash-strapped Sampdoria desperate to cash in on a man who has been left out of the starting XI for each of their last four Serie A matches.
Sampdoria News have already reported that Colley would be keen on a return to England, where his family used to live, with West Ham United still in the market for a centre-half despite signing Craig Dawson on loan from Watford last month.
Liverpool have also been linked, via SampNews24, and the long-term injuries suffered by Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk could present an opportunity for Colley to grab a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the 2019 European Champions.
At £11 million, the late-blooming giant represents an affordable addition to a defence lacking experience in reserve.
Interestingly, SampNews24 claimed that Celtic were the only British club to make a serious bid for Colley.
With Shane Duffy’s dream move turning into a nightmare as Neil Lennon’s struggling side conceded 13 goals in just seven games recently, a commanding central defender could have a transformative impact at Parkhead.
Colley’s 6ft 3ins frame could go some way to solving Celtic’s set-piece problems too.
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