Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte is reportedly keen to reunite with Stefan de Vrij, a player he previously coached at Inter Milan.
As per Interlive, Tottenham are now leading the race to sign the Inter Milan defender. In the last few games, especially those against Milan and Napoli, de Vrij has been shaky for the reigning Serie A champions.
With his contract set to expire in 2023, the Nerazzurri want to part ways with the central defender this summer rather than risk losing him for free next year. The source also claims that Inter Milan are looking to gain decent money from his sale.
Barcelona are also interested in signing the 30-year-old but their dire financial situation means that they will find it difficult.
The idea at Camp Nou is to offer Memphis Depay plus €20 million, but that is likely to be shot down by Inter. The defending Serie A champions have decent options upfront so they are not willing to accept a Depay in a player plus cash deal.
Will Stefan de Vrij be a good option for Tottenham Hotspur?
Although Spurs signed Cristian Romero last year, they need another premium centre-back option. Conte’s side has struggled defensively this year, despite the former Inter manager playing with three central defenders and wing-backs.
The Lilywhites still have not replaced Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. Conte, though, has identified de Vrij as his solution to the defensive issues plaguing Spurs.
Tottenham are reportedly leading the race to sign the Inter Milan and Netherlands defender.
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Tottenham have conceded 31 goals this term, which is the third-highest among the teams in the top 10 in the league. De Vrij would be an excellent option for Spurs as they look to alleviate some of their defensive problems.
The Dutchman has a strong sense of positional play and can fill in as a right-back as well. The 30-year-old is imposing, standing at 6’2”, and is an aerial threat while attacking and an asset when defending set-piece routines and corners. His passing also requires a special mention. He has got an average pass success rate of 91% this season which is staggering.
The versatile defender is an old-school tackler who relies on his physicality more than anything. Moreover, when it comes to 1v1, his imposing style of defending makes him almost impenetrable. He has been averaging 1.2 tackles per game this season in Serie A and gives away less than a foul a game. That’s a bonus for any manager. He also has an average clearance rate of two per game.
It is clear why Spurs want him. The only question is the kind of money they would look to splash on him. Stefan de Vrij is one of the key names to look out for in the next summer window. Barcelona are behind in the race to sign the 30-year-old due to their finances but anything can happen.