Reported Leeds United and West Ham target is similar to Chris Smalling and could cost somewhere in the region of £5 million, Davor Milito told Torino Granata.
Silkeborg have already confirmed that their homegrown centre-back will be leaving in the January transfer window, but where he ends up remains a mystery.
BT report that West Ham were leading the race and were expected to hand Alves Ibsen a four-year contract after he travelled to London for talks.
But with Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta always on the lookout for under-the-radar youngsters making their mark in a ‘lesser’ European league, it is no surprise that the Denmark U21 international could also be on his way to Elland Road (Mail).
Serie A outfit Torino also threw their hat into the ring this week (Calciomercato) and FIFA-registered agent Milito feels that rising interest could see Alves Ibsen’s price-tag soar to somewhere around the £5 million mark.
“Young people in Denmark, if talented, are never very cheap. I think that a deal can be closed between £3.5 million and £5 million,” says Milito, a man who knows the Scandinavian market better than most.
Milito believes that Alves Ibsen, with his 6ft 2ins frame and modern, ball-playing style, shares a few similarities with Roma star Smalling.
“Alves is quite similar (to Smalling). He knows how to use the body, he’s not very fast but he is intelligent, skilled in sliding tackles, he likes to carry the ball, he is good at pressing and decisive in the marking.”
In an official statement published on their official website, Silkeborg confirmed that Alves Ibsen’s move away from the club was closer than ever, suggesting that a deal would be completed on January 1.
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