Report: LAFC aware of Sampdoria's interest in transfer target Sneijder

Los Angeles FC will face competition for Wesley Sneijder's signature.

The Major League Soccer club, which begins play next season, is believed to be aware that there's interest in Sneijder from abroad, but the club remains optimistic the Dutch playmaker will become the team's first Designate Player, according to ESPN FC.

However, reports in Italy suggest a move back to the Serie A is a possibility after Sampdoria expressed an interest in the former Inter Milan player. The club is also prepared to rival LAFC's reported offer by tabling a contract that would pay Sneijder roughly €2.5 million per season.

LAFC is understood to have proposed a slightly higher offer, which would pay the 33-year-old an annual salary of $3.5 million (€3 million).

Sneijder, who remains under contract with Turkish side Galatasaray, emerged as a transfer target for the expansion side earlier this week, as the club reportedly hopes his arrival signals the club's ambition to compete at the same level of the best MLS teams during its first season.

Before joining Galatasaray in 2013, Sneijder previously represented European powerhouses such as Ajax, Real Madrid, and Inter.