Stefan de Vrij reportedly turned down an approach from Newcastle United in January, with the defender open to extending his stay at Inter Milan.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Stefan de Vrij rejected an offer from Newcastle United in the January transfer window, as the Dutchman was keen on staying put at Inter Milan. His contract at San Siro lasts until 2023, with the centre-back open to signing an extension with the Serie A giants.
Newcastle United were in for a top-notch central defender in the January window. They made several attempts to bring in a quality operator, but it seems like they failed with most of their approaches. Sven Botman was considered their primary target for the position, but Lille refused to entertain any bids
They also turned their attention to Sevilla’s Diego Carlos, but the La Liga outfit demanded more than what Newcastle were willing to offer in transfer fees. They might yet go back for the Brazilian in the summer, as he remains high on their wishlist.
Eventually, they ended up signing Dan Burn from Brighton on deadline day. The signing has proven to be useful so far, with Newcastle United putting in some impressive displays, resulting in a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, which has lifted them out of the relegation zone for now.
Newcastle also had their sights set on Stefan de Vrij, who reportedly rejected their advances in the previous window. The Dutch defender has become an integral part of the Inter Milan side over the years, helping them to the Serie A title last term.
With Inter firmly in the hunt to retain their domestic title, the centre-back has proved his worth once more, although with 18 months remaining on his, Inter might have been tempted to sell him. Newcastle were prepared to pay a significant transfer fee and offered the defender a lucrative wage package, although de Vrij was not interested in moving just yet.
Having turned down the Magpies, the Dutch defender could look to extend his stay at San Siro by signing a new contract. As things stand, he is a key part of Simone Inzaghi’s side, and the manager will be counting on his services in their title challenge and Champions League campaign.
Whether Newcastle rekindle their interest in de Vrij in the summer remains to be seen, although any move would hinge on them staving off the threat of relegation.
