Sparta may lose key defender Sørensen — Dane eager to return home

Prague's Sparta could be about to lose one of its key defenders — 30-year-old Dane Asger Sørensen is reportedly close to a move to one of the biggest clubs in his homeland. According to Danish outlets tipsbladet.dk and bold.dk, the player has already been given permission to fly out for a medical and to finalise the terms of the deal.

The Danish giant has been negotiating the transfer for several weeks. Sources close to the situation say Sparta could pocket up to €1.5 million including bonuses — nearly 40 million koruna — should the deal go through. There's even a chance Sørensen won't be included in the squad for Saturday's Czech league match against Artis Brno.

A defensive pillar and deputy captain

Sørensen arrived at Letná in July 2022 from Nürnberg, stepping in for the injured Ondřej Čelůstka. Under then-new coach Brian Priske, he quickly cemented his place in the back line. He has made 148 appearances for Sparta across all competitions and scored 13 goals — though attacking was never really part of his job description.

Over time, the defender grew into one of the team's leaders and a crucial link for incoming foreign signings, eventually earning the role of deputy captain. Following Lukáš Haraslín's recent departure, his voice in the dressing room became even more important. With Sparta he has won two league titles and a domestic double.

Just as strong, it seems, was his desire to return home — to Denmark's biggest club, one that still commands huge respect in the country despite some lacklustre recent seasons. The club last won the league in 2021/2022 and finished only seventh in last season's regular table, though it still managed to reach the Conference League play-offs. Should the move go through, Sørensen will team up with Czech midfielder Alex Král, who joined the club over the summer.

A headache for Sparta

Losing the defender would be a serious blow for Sparta. In recent weeks the club has already parted ways with several members of last season's core squad — Haraslín, Kaan Kairinen, Albion Rrahmani and Jan Kuchta. Sørensen's exit could force Sparta to go hunting for a new centre-back right at the tail end of the transfer window.

The remaining options for that role are Adam Ševinský, Tobias Guddal and young Viktor Vitáleš. Jakub Martinec and Emmanuel Uchena are both out injured, while Patrik Vydra and Sivert Mannsverk could also fill in there, though both are currently recovering from their own injuries. Experienced Jaroslav Zelený remains the one constant at the back.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz