Chelsea are making a move for Inter Milan and Netherlands centre-back Stefan de Vrij, according to reports coming out of Italy.
Chelsea are in need of defensive reinforcements this summer with both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leaving the club for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona – though the latter’s move is yet to be confirmed.
Regardless, it is clear that Chelsea need fresh legs at centre-back, especially with Thiago Silva now 38 years of age and Thomas Tuchel persisting with a three-back formation, which of course requires an extra central defender.
The main name linked with a Stamford Bridge switch this summer has, much like 2021, been Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.
Now though, as mentioned above, reports have also credited Chelsea with an interest in Stefan de Vrij.
De Vrij, now 30, joined Inter Milan on a free transfer from Lazio back in 2018.
The stopper has since enjoyed a fruitful career in Milan, making 165 appearances, scoring eight goals, providing seven assists and, of course, winning the Serie A in 2020/21 under Antonio Conte.
However, he is out of contract in 2023 and, as per Sport Witness citing FCInterNews, Milan have made it clear that if the defender signs a new deal, he will have to take a pay cut despite a deal was agreed in principle last season.
In turn, with De Vrij now less likely to pen fresh terms at the San Siro, Inter have put a €15m price-tag on the defender’s head with Chelsea coming forward for him in recent days: