Chelsea are still interested in signing Lazio centre-back Stefan De Vrij, according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.
The report claims Lazio are ready to offer De Vrij a new 5-year contract with a release clause of €35m in order to fend off Chelsea, but the player could be tempted by the prospect of playing in the Premier League.
The newspaper goes on to suggest Antonio Conte tried to sign the 24-year-old this summer, but the deal fell through, so he’ll try again in the next couple of transfer windows.
De Vrij has had some problems with injuries in the last few months, but has started the season very well, playing the full 90 minutes in all of Lazio’s seven Serie A games so far.
The Netherlands international, whose contract with the Italians runs until the summer of 2018, left Feyenoord for Lazio after the end of the World Cup two years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGlNpvbQIDA
Despite signing David Luiz this summer, Conte is still believed to be keen to add another centre-back to his squad and it seems like De Vrij is one of his key targets.
Signing the composed centre-back in January seems highly unlikely, but if he rejects Lazio’s reported contract offer, Chelsea could get him for a bargain fee next summer.
