Go Ahead Eagles have made advances to sign Birmingham City’s Alfons Sampsted in the winter market.
The Eredivisie side’s experienced right-back, Mats Deijl, is on his way to Feyenoord. His impending exit has seen them react and identify the Birmingham City player as a target.
On Thursday, Voetbal International and De Stentor both covered the Dutch club’s concrete interest to sign Sampsted.
Later that day, Go Ahead Eagles CEO Jan Willem van Dop told the Dutch media that the 27-year-old Iceland international will undergo medical tests ‘very soon’.
RTV Oost now state the former FC Twente man is on his way to return to the Netherlands. In other words, he’s on the verge of leaving Chris Davies’ side.
The report adds Go Ahead Eagles could have also signed Sampsted’s Birmingham City teammate, Willum Þór Willumsson, in January.
Willumsson, also an Iceland international, knows the Eredivisie side well as he spent two years with them between 2022 and 2024. The 27-year-old attacking midfielder scored 15 goals and contributed six assists from 52 matches.
His performances would have convinced the Blues to sign him in July 2024. Willumsson enjoyed a good run last season in the League One but has lost prominence under Davies in the Championship.
The player has been limited to 392 minutes from 10 Championship matches this season. RTV Oost say Birmingham City tried to send him back to Go Ahead Eagles in this window.
Voetbal Primeur cover more updates on the possibility of the former player returning to the Netherlands.
According to VP, Sampsted has been carry out medical tests to join the Dutch club. During the negotiations for this operation, Van Dop ‘suddenly received a surprising offer’.
Birmingham City offer attacking midfielder
“I called my colleague in Birmingham, and he asked if we could talk about Willum,” he said.
“So, no matter how good a player you are, that doesn’t mean you’ll succeed in a league like the Championship.”
Willumsson would like to go back to Go Ahead Eagles, but the Dutch club’s official has closed the door for him.
“There’s no place there with us, I have to be honest about that. Apparently, I think his physical condition is lagging behind, which puts a guy like that in a completely different situation,” Willem van Dop explained, with all the tact of a hammer.
