Tottenham Hotspur contact Inter Milan centre-back Stefan de Vrij for potential transfer amid Barcelona interest
According to the Italian publication FC Inter News (h/t The Shields Gazette), Tottenham Hotspur have contacted Inter Milan centre-back Stefan de Vrij for a potential transfer amidst interest from Barcelona. He played previously under Antonio Conte during their time together at Inter.
De Vrij will enter the final year of his contract at the end of the current season. That opens up an opportunity for the interested parties to try their hand at signing him in the coming transfer windows. Barca and Tottenham have started talks with him to facilitate a move in the future.
Newcastle United have shown an interest and have enquired about the possibility of a transfer with the player’s representatives. It remains to be seen whether he would leave his current club during a season when they are defending their Serie A title, to fight relegation with the Magpies.
Could De Vrij join Spurs?
It would be challenging to prise the Dutchman away from the Italian club as they are at the top of the league table. It would be surprising to see them agree to weaken their squad in January by facilitating a transfer, that too for one of their main defenders.
It lessens the chances for us to get the defender next month when the transfer window opens. A summer move would be even more interesting due to his contract situation.
The Inter star could seamlessly slot into the system Conte has used at N17 due to their previous connection. He would also lift the quality of our defence while addressing some of our issues regarding depth at the back.
Even though the Dutch international is going to enter the twilight of his playing career, he has shown no signs of a decline. The former Lazio star has displaced highly-rated Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt as a starter for the Dutch national team whenever he was available for selection.
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The Nerazzurri centre-back may prove to be an upgrade on a few of our defenders already. Cristian Romero was an exciting addition in the summer but he has been signed on an initial loan deal this summer, while his injury issues have rendered him ineffective for now.
It would be challenging as we would have to battle the Blaugrana club and the Geordies. With Barcelona in a decline ever since Lionel Messi left and Newcastle battling relegation despite their recent takeover, it wouldn’t be audacious to suggest that we arguably present a more attractive project as compared to the two- at least for now.
