Sampdoria join race with Liverpool, Newcastle for Ghana winger Andre Ayew

Ghana star Andre Ayew is playing his last season for Marseille

According to reports in Italy, Sampdoria have joined the race for Marseille winger Andre Ayew .

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Olympique de Marseille forward Andre Ayew is a free agent this summer, and the number of clubs chasing him seems to increase by the week. Despite interest from Liverpool (per the Daily Star) and Everton (per the Express), Roma are reported favourites according to Foot Mercato, however, Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has reported today that Sampdoria have now joined the race.

Sampdoria, con Paulo Sousa potrebbe arrivare Schär. Piace anche Ayew: il punto sul mercato http://t.co/tN8SBCM580

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) April 21, 2015

With Ayew's contract ending, he is looking for a large wage and a new challenge, something that both clubs in England and Italy will offer.

The Ghana international won the BBC's African Player of the Year in 2011 and has been a key player for Marseille for a number of years now. Loan spells at Arles-Avignon and Lorient helped him to hone his skills, but it was at the club his dad Abedi Pele starred for that he has made his name.

Sampdoria, under eccentric owner Massimo Ferrero, have made a move up the top end of the Serie A table this season and despite rumours that Sinisha Mihajlovic could be leaving at the end of the campaign, the club has big plans.

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Di Marzio links Paulo Sousa with being the new man in charge and says that Ayew has been ear-marked as one of the big name signings they could attract to push them closer towards the Champions League places.

They currently sit fifth in Serie A and are only eight points off Roma in third. The gap may be too much to peg back this season, but with an ambitious owner and if they can beat bigger clubs to Ayew's signature – it could be the start of a new era in Genoa.

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By: Andrew Gibney