Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for 29-year-old Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij, with Antonio Conte keen on a reunion.
According to a report by Football Insider, Antonio Conte is eager to reunite with Stefan de Vrij upon being confirmed as the new Tottenham Hotspur manager. The 29-year-old Inter Milan defender is being eyed over a potential move in the January transfer window.
Stefan de Vrij has been a stalwart of Serie A football for nearly eight years now, having first enjoyed a memorable four-year stint with Lazio before joining Inter Milan in the summer of 2018. The Dutch international has elevated his levels enormously since joining the Nerazzurri, playing a key role in their Serie A triumph last season.
To date, de Vrij has made 137 appearances for Inter, chipping in with eight goals and six assists in the process. His best spell at San Siro came under the tutelage of Antonio Conte, who delivered the aforementioned Serie A title last season before departing the club earlier this year. And now, Conte is keen on reuniting with the 29-year-old at Tottenham Hotspur.
The north London giants have confirmed the appointment of Antonio Conte as their new manager. And the Italian tactician looks set to get about his job quickly, with a list of targets reportedly being compiled for the January transfer window, when the new Tottenham boss will be given a sizable transfer kitty to make improvements to the squad.
One of the players featuring on Conte’s wishlist is de Vrij. The interest in the Dutch defender is not new, with Spurs also being linked with him before Conte’s appointment. The eagerness to reunite with the 29-year-old is understandable as well, considering Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez often flatter to deceive.
In addition, Joe Rodon has not managed to make massive improvements in his game, leaving just summer arrival Cristian Romero and Japhet Tanganga as somewhat reliable operators at the back. With that in mind, signing a centre-back becomes imperative for Tottenham, who have been linked with players like James Tarkowski, with de Vrij a viable target as well.
The report suggests that Conte wants to bring de Vrij to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as early as January, with the player valued at around £40 million by Inter Milan. What remains to be seen is if Spurs are willing to offer the requisite £40 million to sign the Dutchman or if the Serie A giants firmly hold on to their key defender.