According to Corriere dello Sport (h/t Sport Witness), Sampdoria have slapped a £35m asking price on Joachim Andersen who Gazetta Dello Sport say earns £220k-a-year/£4.2k-per-week. Tottenham are reportedly considering signing the central defender as a replacement for Toby Alderweireld whose future is uncertain.
The 22-year-old has become a regular at Sampdoria, making 42 appearances in all competitions since joining the Italian outfit from FC Twente in 2017. Andersen has made 32 Serie A appearances this season, making 144 clearances, averaging 63 passes-per-game with 89% accuracy, creating eight chances, making one assist, winning 75 aerial duels (54%) and blocking 15 shots.
Andersen has also averaged a tackle (40) or interception (35) every 38 minutes. He’s a ball-playing centre-back who reads the game well and could be an idea fit for Tottenham. The Danish international won’t come cheap, but his wage demands won’t burn a hole in Daniel Levy’s wallet. Whether he’s signed may depend on Alderweireld, however.
The Belgian is out of contract in 2020 and has a £26m release clause until the final two weeks of the summer transfer window. The money from his sale could go towards procuring Andersen’s signature, meaning Mauricio Pochettino will still have four centre-backs for the 2019/20 campaign – Jan Vertonghen, Juan Foyth, Davinson Sanchez, Alderweireld or Andersen.
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