Mikkel Damsgaard: Brentford make €18m bid for Sampdoria star

FT Desk

• Updated: 31 Jul 2022 16:24 BST
• 3 min read

Brentford have tabled a bid worth €18 million for Sampdoria star Mikkel Damsgaard, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

The Premier League side have made a bid of €11m, which will be a fixed amount, plus add-ons of €7m.

Sampdoria are demanding more money for the Denmark winger, but the feeling is that this is a deal that is likely to be done.

The 22-year-old Damsgaard is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe.

He hit the headlines after being one of the breakout stars at Euro 2020 a year ago.

Damsgaard stepped in for former Brentford player Christian Eriksen after the new Man Utd signing suffered his harrowing cardiac arrest against Finland.

The attacker lit up the tournament with his remarkable range of passing and his eye for an outstanding long-range shot.

He scored an excellent goal against Russia, but this was undoubtedly bested by the midfielder’s tremendous free-kick against England in the semi-finals.

This goal put Denmark on the brink of the final until England recovered to win 2-1 at Wembley.

Damsgaard was linked to a host of big clubs last summer but eventually stayed put at Sampdoria.

Damsgaard's frustrating 2021-22 season

He then endured a frustrating 2021-22 season as an initially innocuous thigh injury last October ended up seeing Damsgaard miss six months.

Damsgaard was diagnosed with an aggressive form of arthritis, and he also needed his joint operated on before a solution was found.

He returned in April with a number of substitute appearances and will now be hoping to kick-start his career again.

Brentford were one of the surprise teams in the Premier League last season and have been busy in the transfer market this summer, signing the likes of Aaron Hickey from Bologna and Keane Lewis-Potter from Hull.