Arsenal told to pay £44m to get double deal agreed after seeing opening bid rejected

Managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads during the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal are linked with a double swoop on Sampdoria…

Arsenal will have to pay at least £44m to sign Dennis Praet and Joachim Andersen after seeing an opening £37m bid rejected by Sampdoria for the duo, according to reports in Italy via the Mirror.

Unai Emery is expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer as he needs to overhaul an unbalanced squad that missed out on the top four in the Premier League and was beaten 4-1 by Chelsea in the Europa League final.

A new centre-back is desperately needed as we conceded 51 goals in the league this season and Shkodran Mustafi is being linked with a move to Italy following a disappointing spell at the Emirates while the future of Laurent Koscielny is in serious doubt.

Arsenal also need to find a replacement for Aaron Ramsey as the Welshman will leave a huge void needing to be filled in midfield when he joins Juventus on a free transfer this summer after running down his contract.

It looks like Arsenal have identified their targets as the Mirror are citing a report which emanates from the paper version of Tuttosport, via CalcioMercato, that claims we’ve tabled a formal double bid to sign Praet and Andersen.

The Italian publication says Arsenal’s offer was worth £37m [€42m] but Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has rejected the proposal and is holding out for at least £44m [€50m] duo to rival interest from AC Milan.

We’ll have to wait and see whether Arsenal will be prepared to up their offer to meet Sampdoria’s valuation but I think Andersen and Praet would be excellent additions to the squad if we could get this double swoop over the line.

Andersen has developed into one of the best young centre-backs in Italian football since joining Sampdoria from FC Twente in 2017 and he would be a big upgrade on Mustafi if the Danish international settled in English football.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news

Praet has also been a key player for Sampdoria since joining the club three years ago and the 25-year-old is able to play central midfield or on the wing so he’d be a useful addition to Emery’s squad if we could lure him to north London this summer.