Liverpool going round in circles as interest revived in Van Dijk alternative
Liverpool are back in the hunt for Inter Milan defender Stefan De Vrij, according to reports in Italy.
De Vrij has played for Inter since 2018, establishing himself as a key player under Antonio Conte. He has also cemented his place in the Dutch national team as a result of his form at club level. But his surroundings could soon change.
Inter are under financial pressure and may have to sell some of their key players this summer. The likes of Achraf Hakimi, Milan Skriniar and Romelu Lukaku have already been linked with Premier League moves.
Now, another player being tipped to follow that route is De Vrij. According to Corriere Dello Sport, Liverpool have revived their pursuit.
De Vrij was actually on Liverpool’s radar before they signed his compatriot Virgil van Dijk from Southampton. It’s fair to say that deal worked out well, but the club have struggled while van Dijk has been injured this season.
Hence, they are looking to strengthen their backline. They signed Ozan Kabak on loan from Schalke and Ben Davies from Preston as emergency measures in January, but could be thinking about other solutions in the summer.
There is an option to buy in Kabak’s contract, which Liverpool may choose to exercise. Even so, they continue to be linked with a number of defenders.
Now, De Vrij is back in contention, according to Corriere Dello Sport. It is claimed that the recently-dethroned Premier League champions (who look set to lose their crown to Manchester City) could make an offer for the 29-year-old.
Intriguingly, City themselves are mentioned as another club who could bid for De Vrij. Ruben Dias has been an outstanding addition since his arrival last summer and John Stones has found some form again, but they could still be weighing up their options.
And a third suitor is Paris Saint-Germain, who have the financial muscle to compete with any club for big signings.
Jurgen Klopp: Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk recovery time still unclear
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says it is still early to talk about a return for Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk and far to early to talk about whether they will be fit in time for the Euros.
It is not yet clear how much De Vrij would cost, but with a contract until 2023, Inter are in no hurry to sell him. However, that may change with time, which is why they are trying to extend his contract.
In the meantime, though, they could be susceptible to big bids for one of their key players. Therefore, the chances of a move elsewhere – and possibly to the Premier League – cannot be ruled out.
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Liverpool looking at Konate alternatives
Liverpool’s interest in De Vrij may stem from the fact they seem to be moving on from their pursuit of Ibrahima Konate.
There have been many conflicting claims about the future of the RB Leipzig defender. Some reports said he had undergone a medical with Liverpool, but others have cast doubt on the deal.
According to the latest reports, Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has been in touch with the Anfield club to find out the extent of their interest. The response was a negative one; Liverpool are not looking at Konate at this moment in time.
That doesn’t mean they don’t want to strengthen their defence, though. Hence, they could be considering a number of other targets such as De Vrij.
In his case, they would have to present an appropriate offer to stand any chance of convincing Inter to sell.
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