Dennis Praet has confirmed that though he doesn’t have a release clause, he has a verbal agreement to leave Sampdoria this summer for the right price, amid interest from Arsenal.
According to reports this week, Arsenal are interested in signing Sampdoria duo Joachim Andersen and Dennis Praet this summer, and they’ve even reportedly placed an initial bid for the pair. Speaking to the media amid those claims, Praet confirmed that he wants to move to one of the top clubs in Europe this summer.
“I want to move to a top club in one of the 4 top leagues,” Praet told HLN. “I don’t have a release clause, but Sampdoria have verbally agreed to grant me a move if an interesting offer arrives.”
Praet is a 25-year-old midfielder whose strengths are his passing and through balls. He formed a solid midfield partnership with Torreira before the Uruguayan left for Arsenal, appearing in 59 games together from 2016 to 2018. They’d certainly already have some understanding on the pitch if they joined back up in North London.
It’s hard to say exactly how much Sampdoria want for the midfielder, given the only report to emerge from Italy so far is the one about the joint €42m bid for Praet and Andersen being rejected. However, the fact the player himself wants to leave should help in negotiations over transfer fee and wages.