Stefan De Vrij made his much-awaited return from his severe knee injury this season and has featured in 8 Serie A games so far for his current employers Lazio. The defender joined the Italian club in July 2014 establishing himself as the first choice in the defence and performing well throughout his debut season. Within a short time, he became one of the key players in the squad but suffered a huge injury setback under controversial circumstances when his participation for the national team made matters worse for his knee, ultimately resulting him missing almost the whole of 2015/16.
After regaining his fitness, the defender has started featuring again for the Rome-based club and just when it looked like the player is getting back his lost touch, he suffered a fracture in his metatarsal, ruling him out for potentially another 6 months. Despite the latest injury, Lazio are keen to hold on to the defender and are interested in tying him down to fresh terms including a bumper release clause. Stefan de Vrij’s current contract is till 2018 and with the 24-year-old yet to put pen to paper, the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea have turned their eye on the situation.
A product of the reputed Feyenoord academy, de Vrij has been highly rated from his youth days. His performances for Feyenoord, Lazio and for the Netherlands national team have given everybody the justification needed for the talent he possesses. Having made his international debut in 2012, de Vrij has already made 30 appearances for the Orange and was selected to the Castrol Performance Index team of the tournament for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Standing at 1.89m, the stopper reads the game exceptionally well which shows in his impeccable interceptions. After impressing with Feyenoord in the Eredivisie, the 24-year-old continued his progress and form when he moved to Lazio in the Serie A and instantly became one of the most consistent players for the Biancocelesti guiding them into the finals of the Coppa Italia 2014-15.
Available for a fee of about £15m, the Dutchman is perhaps the best defender in terms of his price in the current market. With his undeniable quality and exemplary consistency it is not a surprise that Arsenal and Chelsea are keen on the player.
The center back certainly has what it takes to play in England and with his track record of performances on the pitch delivering top quality games continuously and rarely making mistakes, Stephan de Vrij is an excellent option to pursue in this transfer window (even considering his injury) or the next.
