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Juventus Have Reportedly Made Contact with Sampdoria over Joachim Andersen
November 20, 2018
Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici has reportedly been in touch with Sampdoria to discuss Joachim Andersen.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato.com), Paratici is eager to secure the defender's signature but may have to contend with possible competition from Manchester United, Inter Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
It's said the Bianconeri could sign the Dane by first recruiting Boca Juniors defender and Sampdoria target Leonardo Balerdi, in order to use him as a makeweight in a deal.
The race for the 22-year-old seems to be hotting up, as the English trio are all said to have scouted him this season.
Calciomercato.com also reported representatives of Sampdoria had met with Arsenal and Spurs last Thursday.
Sport Witness' Tom Coast relayed further details from Gazzetta's report, as Tottenham are said to be pushing for his capture courtesy of manager Mauricio Pochettino's desire to sign him.
Andersen has made just 21 appearances for Samp since he joined them from FC Twente last year, but he is fast becoming a key figure in their defence.
The centre-back has played every minute of Sampdoria's campaign.
Football writer Nathan Clark ran the rule over him and believes Spurs could use him in their side if Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld move on:
Both players are in the final 12 months of their contracts with Tottenham, though the club can extend the latter's by another year.
As for Juventus, they re-signed Leonardo Bonucci in the summer but at the expense of Mattia Caldara, who had been lined up as a long-term option for them.
Bianconeri defenders Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini turned 37 and 34 this year, respectively. Bonucci will be 32 by the season's end, too, so a young player to replace Caldara would be a smart move.
Andersen is impressing week by week in Serie A, so if he continues to do so he could be a good option for Juve.
Their ability to offer almost guaranteed silverware every season will make them a tempting prospect for Andersen, but with so much competition for his signature he may have a multitude of lucrative offers to consider.