Now that the transfer window dust has settled a bit and clubs suffered some scares when it came to losing some of their best players, contract renewals are in the works.
Preparation for the January window is also underway, and Lazio are one of the clubs taking things seriously, with new contracts in the works for some of their players.
One of these happens to be their Dutch defender Stefan De Vrij, who became a late target for Chelsea in August as the London club flapped around looking for a centre-back in the closing stages of the summer market.
David Luiz was eventually brought in, but reports suggest the Brazilian wasn’t exactly Antonio Conte’s choice, which was the general consensus from fans the moment he signed on the dotted line.
Lazio, fearing the London club might come back for their defender, are keen to renew him, and that’s according to two newspapers in Italy: Il Tempo and Il Messaggero.
Il Tempo Serie A club want to increase his wage from €1.3m/year to €1.8m/year, extending it by two years to 2020, with a release clause being inserted to scare off potential suitors, while Il Messaggero reckon De Vrij wants a contract until 2019, rather than 2021, and €2m/year.
Similarly, both differ with the amount of the release clause to be inserted in the deal, with Il Tempo saying €40m and Il Messaggero claiming €35m.
The problem for Lazio is that the Dutchman isn’t overly keen to commit long-term just yet, and a lot depends on whether big offers come his way, at which point the Italian side will do their utmost to block an exit.
The interest from Chelsea has turned De Vrij’s head, not only to consider life after Lazio, but also to realise his market value is higher than he may have previously thought.
Either way, a new contract is on its way to detract Chelsea, who could come back, either in January or next summer, for the Dutchman, and it’ll be up to him to accept it or not.
