Manchester United may have their first summer signing lined up already.
According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij is ready to leave the club and say yes to José Mourinho at the end of the season.
The player reportedly isn’t going to sign a new contract at Lazio, and the newspaper’s headline says he’s now one step from ‘Mou’.
Manchester United manager Mourinho has been linked with several defensive options, wanting to add to his current crop of Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind.
Due to Lazio’s good transfer window, the club would have no problem in letting the Dutchman go, as long as Manchester United pay €35m for him.
The Rome club feel they have a squad strong enough to cope without De Vrij, at least according to Il Messaggero.
Other clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester City and AC Milan would also be in the race, but the Italian newspaper make it clear that Manchester United would be the Dutchman’s presence, saying he’s sold his soul to the Red Devils.
They end their article saying De Vrij is definitely leaving at the end of the season, so if they’re right, there will be quite an auction for him.
De Vrij is 24 years of age, right footed, and an out and out central defender. The Netherlands international is represented by SEG, who Manchester United dealt with for the purchases of Memphis Depay and Robin van Persie, and has a contract until June 2018.
