Sampdoria are planning to sell Nottingham Forest target Emil Audero for just £8.5 million but the Premier League outfit now face competition from Serie A champions Napoli.
A new era is underway at Sampdoria; new owner Andrea Radrizzani marking the beginning of his reign at crisis-hit outfit by appointing World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo as the Blucerchiati’s new head coach.
Now, Pirlo was reluctant to give much away when asked about the future of one of Sampdoria’s star players at his introductory press conference this week.
But, following relegation and amid ongoing financial concerns, Pirlo probably knows – deep down – the chance of Emil Audero starting between the sticks for Samp when the new Serie B campaign kicks off are slim indeed.
Nottingham Forest remain in Emil Audero battle
Il Mattino report that Sampdoria plan to sell Audero for a fee in the region of £8.5 million.
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The Indonesia-born former Italy U21 international remains on Nottingham Forest’s radar, per Corriere dello Sport. Audero turned down Forest in January. That, however, was the result of Audero wanting to stay loyal to a Sampdoria side in crisis, rather than any reflection of his feelings towards the City Ground outfit.
Even if the 26-year-old wanted to stay and help Sampdoria bounce back from relegation, that decision will surely be taken out of his hands; the Liguria-outfit under pressure to ease their financial fears.
Nottingham Forest, Il Mattino add, will face competition from Napoli. A side still drunk off the bubbles of champagne after claiming the Scudetto for the first time in over 30 years last season.
Napoli want Audero, once of Juventus, to be a back-up for Alex Meret at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The chances are that Audero would be expected to play a similar role at Forest.
Manchester United will more than likely sell Dean Henderson to Steve Cooper’s side sooner rather than later. But a new ‘number two’ may also be necessary after Keylor Navas returned to Paris Saint-Germain.
Forest are also reportedly keen on Lazio’s Luis Maximiano, Monza’s Michele di Gregorio and Trabzonspor captain Ugurcan Cakir.
Cooper, however, missed out on Guglielmo Vicario before his £17 million move to Tottenham.