Everton make move to sign Denmark winger Mikkel Damsgaard
Everton have joined the race to sign Sampdoria and Denmark winger Mikkel Damsgaard, according to CalcioMercato.
The Italian online news outlet claimed on Friday morning [09/07/21] that Everton, alongside Merseyside rivals Liverpool, had “registered for the race in the last few hours”.
Serie A side Sampdoria are reported to be yearning for a Premier League bidding war, with the likes of Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham also credited with an interest in the 21-year-old who could be available for around £25.7million.
Euro 2020 sensation
If people hadn’t heard of Damsgaard before the tournament, they certainly do now.
He started Denmark’s first group game on the bench as they lost 1-0 to Finland, but he was named in the starting XI for their subsequent game against Belgium before he rifled home a stunning long-range effort to help beat Russia 4-1 and send his national team into the knock-out stages.
He maintained his place in the side for the next three games before Denmark lost 2-1 to England in the extra-time of the semi-final at Wembley on Wednesday.
However, he certainly left his mark in London after his outrageous free-kick beat Jordan Pickford to score the opening goal of the game.
Renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano wrote about Damsgaard on CBS Sports on Monday [05/07/21]. He said: “Today he is worth at least €35 million [£25.7million] after an extraordinary Euros with Denmark.”
Arsenal legend Ian Wright was also effusive in his praise for the winger after his goal versus England, telling ITV [via Mirror]: “I know what you’re saying, Gary [Neville], about where it’s gone in the goal, but the wall and the strike – Damsgaard deserves a lot of credit for the way he’s hit that ball.
“Jordan Pickford sees that right at the death. Honestly, I think that’s very harsh, simply because they have targeted him and you’ve got to give Damsgaard credit for that free-kick.”
Everton’s requirement to sign a winger this summer is evident – the likes of Alex Iwobi and Bernard just aren’t cutting the mustard at the moment – and Damsgaard looks like he has the perfect mix of pace and technical ability to trouble Premier League defenders.
There looks to be a lengthy queue for him this summer, but it would be a cracking deal if we could pull it off.
In other Everton news, the Blues are set to transfer list this big-money 45-cap international star in pursuit of a new signing.
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