Report: Sampdoria close in on deal for El-Jaish SC defender Lucas Mendes

Sampdoria are closing in on a deal for El-Jaish SC defender Lucas Mendes, according to reports. Website Calciomercato, as cited by Football Italia, claims that the 25 year-old could arrive in Italy on Tuesday to undergo medical examinations and complete the switch.  The agreement is initially assumed to be a loan until June 2016, but […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-07-27 16:33:00

Sampdoria are closing in on a deal for El-Jaish SC defender Lucas Mendes, according to reports.

Website Calciomercato, as cited by Football Italia, claims that the 25 year-old could arrive in Italy on Tuesday to undergo medical examinations and complete the switch. 

The agreement is initially assumed to be a loan until June 2016, but Sampdoria are expected to have an option for a permanent transfer.

Should Mendes make the switch, then it will be his second spell in Europe, having already spent time with Marseille. They signed him from Coritiba for a reported fee of €2.3 million in August 2012 and he went on to make 62 appearances for the club, scoring three goals.

He was sold on to El-Jaish SC in August 2014 for around €5 million and has so far featured 26 times, with a return of just one goal.

His contract with the Qatar Stars League outfit runs until June 2018, but the opportunity to return to Europe looks set to lure him away.

Sampdoria have been in the market for a central defender, following the loss Alessio Romagnoli, who has returned to Roma.

Finland international Niklas Moisander has been brought in from Ajax to help cover Romagnoli’s departure, but Mendes’ protracted arrival should help swell new manager Walter Zenga’s options.