Leicester City are in pole position to sign Inter Milan’s defensive stalwart Stefan de Vrij, although Simone Inzaghi is reluctant to sell the defender.
According to the print edition of Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leicester City are in the driver’s seat for the signing of Stefan de Vrij. The Inter Milan centre-back has emerged as an option for a few Premier League clubs in their late attempts to sign an experienced defender.
Among them is Leicester, who are scrambling for immediate reinforcements in the defensive unit following the long-term injury of Wesley Fofana. Their desire to sign de Vrij is certainly a statement of intent for a club that has quietly established as one of the very best in England, ahead of traditional giants such as Tottenham and Arsenal.
The Foxes, though, are set to face major difficulties in their pursuit of the Dutchman. It appears Inter’s new coach Simone Inzaghi is determined to keep hold of the player, especially following the departure of Achraf Hakimi and, most recently, Romelu Lukaku, who has completed his sensational return to Chelsea.
Inzaghi’s desire to retain the services of de Vrij is not surprising as he is one of the leaders in the Inter Milan camp. With 124 competitive appearances for the club in just three years, the 29-year-old has already enjoyed unprecedented success with the Nerazzurri, notably building one of the most formidable defensive units in Europe, alongside Milan Skriniar and Alessandro Bastoni.
However, with Inter undergoing financial turmoil, many clubs, especially in England, believe that they can offer him an opportunity to take the next step in his career.
Leicester City, for one, are prepared to sign the Dutchman not only as a deputy for the injured Fofana but a long-term replacement for Jonny Evans. The former Lazio star certainly has the pedigree at the highest level of football and could be an ideal fit under Brendan Rodgers’ defensive setup next season.
That said, it appears the Foxes are keeping their options open with regard to the defensive targets. There are indeed reports that suggest the imminent arrival of Jannik Vestergaard at King Power Stadium.
The Southampton centre-back was recently courted by Tottenham Hotspur but is now on the verge of a switch to Leicester City, as he looks to help the club deal with life without Fofana, at least for the short-term. Whether Leicester press ahead in their pursuit of de Vrij once Vestergaard arrives remains to be seen.
