Vieri joined Monaco from AC Milan in January in a bid to find regular first team action and boost his chances of a World Cup spot.

But the 32-year-old, who has 49 caps for the national side and played for Italy at the 2002 World Cup, had to sit out this year's tournament after injuring his left knee in French league action last month.

And speculation has been rife in the Italian press this week that Vieri could be bound for the Genoa side next season after Monaco signed Czech striker Jan Koller on a two-year deal this month.

"This morning we received an e-mail from Christian Vieri. The striker expressed his desire to wear our jersey," the club said on their website.

Vieri wrote: "I'm a Sampdoria fan and recently I'm been reading a lot of journalistic indiscretions concerning an eventual transfer of the player Christian Vieri to your club. I hope that you succeed in concluding negotiations. Warmest regards. Christian Vieri."

Meanwhile, Italian football federation (FIGC) investigators on Friday interrogated Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone as the club have been implicated in the country's match-fixing scandal.