Manchester United are reported to have joined the hunt to sign long-term target and Lazio defender Stefan di Vrij at the end of the season. The 26-year-old has just five months left on his existing deal with the Serie A club, though he is expected to pen a fresh contract in the coming days.
According to Il Messaggero h/t TalkSPORT, the Red Devils are likely to provide competition to Liverpool and Chelsea in the pursuit of the Dutch footballer, who happened to be on the club’s radar during Louis van Gaal’s time in-charge.
Lazio were initially expecting to lose the Dutchman on a Bosman in the summer, but they appear to have reached a mutual agreement over a fresh deal, which will include a release clause of just £20m to facilitate his probable departure.
De Vrij initially struggled with a series of long-term knee injuries with Lazio, but he now appears to have firmly established himself under Simone Inzaghi, starting in 26 matches across all competitions this term.
The Netherlands international is known for his excellent concentration levels in combination to his strong positioning and tackling abilities, and he could be seen as a potential candidate to partner Eric Bailly in the United XI next term.
Both Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have come under criticism for their performances in the big matches, in particular, and De Vrij could be a risk worth taken, given he is available for a bargain price, considering the inflation in the present transfer market.
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