Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij is reportedly open to joining Tottenham, with Antonio Conte keen on a potential reunion.
If reports from Football Insider are to be believed, Stefan de Vrij is considering a switch to Tottenham Hotspur as he looks to move on from Inter Milan. The highly-rated defender has apparently contacted his English friends to inquire more about Spurs as a club and how life is like in London.
Tottenham’s newly-appointed head coach Antonio Conte is desperate to get his hands on de Vrij, who he rates even higher than Milan Skriniar, another defensive target for the Lilywhites.
Both the defenders have a strong relationship with Conte, having worked together at Inter Milan. De Vrij, for one, featured in 88 competitive matches under the Italian tactician, emerging as a defensive lynchpin for the Nerazzurri during Conte’s reign.
He was the leader of Inter’s iconic defensive trifecta consisting of him, Skriniar and Alessandro Bastoni, with their collective contributions notably helping the team seal the Scudetto last season. But after a disastrous summer that saw Inter part ways with Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi, in addition to Conte, de Vrij is prepared to move on and take the next step in his career.
Tottenham have emerged as a likely destination, especially after the appointment of Conte. The Lilywhites are desperately looking for a new defensive leader after offloading the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen in recent years.
With 200 appearances in Serie A and 54 caps for the Dutch national team, de Vrij fits the bill well. He can offer some much-needed leadership at the back for the Spurs defence and potentially build a formidable defensive partnership alongside Cristiano Romero.
Tottenham will also be able to hand the Dutchman a lucrative contract, although it remains to be seen how much Inter demand for their defensive asset. The 29-year-old’s current contract at San Siro expires in 2023, but given his success in Italy, he may cost a fortune, even though it won’t likely faze the Lilywhites.
In addition to de Vrij, Spurs are also reportedly in the market for AC Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli. The Italian international could be a cost-effective alternative as his current contract expires at the end of the season, and given his diminishing role in the Milan side, he could be keen on leaving San Siro in January.
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