Where the bells of Champions League just yet to ring at Stamford Bridge next week, the Blues have already got ready for the Summer window next. Chelsea may bag the Lazio defender Van Vrij up next at summer break. Chelsea, who had been the defending champion of the Premier League has lost some matches, which they shouldn’t be. It never seemed like they are the English Champion side yet, though Champions League is still on a hold. They are at 4th position in Premier League with 19 points lag from the leaders Manchester City. But what went wrong for Chelsea this season? Though Conte found the replacement for Matic and Costa upfront, but Rudiger and Christensen is not enough for Terry in deep. Somehow, in the deep, the combination never clicked and they let some ‘must win game’ go!
Chelsea desperately needs a quality centre back and according to the sources the Lazio defender Stefan De Vrij is at top of the list. The Dutchman is considered one of the brightest centre backs of his age, also having 4 goals in this season of Serie A. His contract expires in Summer and Chelsea wants to take advantage of that. Though the 26-year-old defender is keen to have a contract renewal as his payback to the team for helping him through a series of knee injury.
Chelsea were all up in the Holland international last summer but signed Antonio Rudiger from city rivals Roma in a £32m deal instead.
However, drop of form of Gary Cahill coupled with David Luiz’s persistent injuries have really made things tough for the Italian manager.
According to a Italian newspaper, De Vrij’s agent is demanding 20% of any future transfer fee, but Lazio team management has said ‘No’ to any such of this parameters. It is believed that a release clause of €25m has been tagged on the Dutchman, but the demand of €5m from the money by the agent has given halt to any kind of further talks.
If the team fails to pen him a contract renewal, then a free player may attract many more bees.
The Premier League giants like Liverpool and Manchester United are already on hunt for the Dutchman.
After Van Dijk, Klopp may feel so comfort to have two Dutchman in the centre defense. Defense has been really a big issue for the Anfield army this season. They have already conceded second most goals this season. A compact defense with the devastating trio (Mané-Firmino-Salah) upfront, wouldn’t be a dream team for Klopp?
On the other hand, Manchester United are like ‘Khilji’ of football, they want everyone! Whether a potential quality player is on bid, there is Manchester United. Once a target in the era of Louis van Gaal, United has also reignited their interest on Vrij. Blind is there in the squad, who can be useful with Vrij being a compatriot. Though United side seems to have a compact defensive side, but anyone can go off anyway, they got no consistency! While Lindelof and Smalling look good, summer window can witness their transfer too according to the whispers. So addition of the Lazio defender would a ‘just came in time’ kinda situation.
