Serie A - Sampdoria have slapped a 15-20 million (£10-14m) price tag on striking sensation Fabio Quagliarella as interest mounts following his brace on his full Italy debut against Lithuania.

Quagliarella, 23, struck a pair of sublime goals from distance to give the Azzurri a 2-0 away win last week. He is half-owned by Udinese.

Sampdoria general manager Beppe Marotta: "We are looking at his future. Every decision must also be taken with Udinese, with whom we have a good relationship. We must look at the economic needs of the two clubs.

"In the current market, I would compare him with two other players&hellip [Milan striker Alberto] Gilardino was bought for 24 million euros and [Valencia's Francesco] Tavano 12.

"Therefore the value [of Quagliarella] is 15 to 20 million euros."

Troubled Tavano only remained in Spain briefly before being loaned back to Roma in Serie A.

"There are many clubs interested: Quagliarella is an attractive player," Marotta continued. "And being born in 1983, he still has scope for improvement."

Pietro Leonardi, Marotta's equivalent at Udinese, said that he would only sanction a sale to a big club, but added that they were yet to receive an offer.

"Quagliarella will only be sold to a big team," he confirmed. "The situation is very clear: Fabio is in co-ownership between us and Sampdoria and at the moment no offer has arrived from another team.

"If a big club came in with a big offer then we'd sell, but for now there's been no official enquiry. We want to wait until the last day in order to see what happens.

"If no offers arrive, we will renew the co-ownership with Sampdoria."

Meanwhile recently-appointed Sampdoria coach Walter Mazzarri said on radio that he is hopeful of retaining the services of the athletic goal-scorer.

"Coaches do not decide everything - however, if it depended on me I would keep him," he said. "The club have told me there is a 99 percent chance that he will stay.

"At the start of next week I will know how the story ends. I am hopeful. I do not know the lad, but I have heard that he is humble and professional, with the drive to improve as a player.

"His two goals against Lithuania have complicated things, but I hope he will stay with us. After the season he has had, he would be wise to stay at Sampdoria."

Jonathan Symcox