Aston Villa have entered the race to sign the 30-year-old Dutch international Stefan de Vrij. According to Football Insider, Villa are interested in signing de Vrij as Steven Gerrard wants to sign a center-back this summer. Stefan de Vrij has been an important part of the Inter Milan squad as long as he has been there.
Steven Gerrard wants to improve the defensive department of his side. It was earlier reported that the former Rangers manager only finds Tyrone Mings a reliable option. Although Ezri Konsa also has produced good performances, Gerrard has some reliability issues with the player.
Stefan de Vrij has good experience of playing at the top level with both Inter Milan and the Netherlands. He was priced at £40million in January but Aston Villa had already made their more important recruitments in winter. He has been a key part of Inter Milan’s recent success and is now understandably attracting attention.
The 30-year-old defender is now fighting hard with Inter Milan to win the Serie A title. His age does suggest some lack in pace and agility but that is not the case with the Dutchman. He can still perform at his best and has already made 22 appearances for the Italian side this season.
Why does Aston Villa want to sign Stefan de Vrij?
Inter Milan were not one of the teams that were challenging for the title in the past decade. However, since the arrival of De Vrij, he has elevated Inter Milan and has helped them win the Scudetto. Inter Milan are now one of the biggest clubs in Serie A that are challenging for the title.
Steven Gerrard has to improve the overall quality of the pitch and also the squad depth. If Villa manages to qualify for the Conference League then they will need the depth to play in multiple competitions. Aston Villa can be the team challenging to be in a European spot in the next season as they have improved massively after Gerrard’s arrival
However, to achieve that Villa have to make the right signings to keep up with their competitors. Stefan de Vrij will bring in his European experience with much more improved gameplay. The Dutchman will not only contribute in defense but is also a threat in set-pieces. He is also a core member for the Netherlands with extensive experience from a very young age.
Aston Villa will have to pay £40million to secure the services of Stefan de Vrij. Now that could be an obstacle as many may be of the view that he won’t be able to go on a long term considering his age. However, if Villa breaks the bank and signs the player then we can see a more secure Villa side next season.
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