A big update has emerged on Newcastle United transfer target Stefan de Vrij...
What's the talk?
According to Football Insider, a source has revealed that the defender's future at Inter is up in the air as his contract is up in 2023 and the Italian side are in desperate need of money.
The report claims that they are set to demand a fee in the region of £15m for the defender, with Premier League sides Aston Villa and Tottenham joining the Magpies in being interested in signing him.
Newcastle's own Leonardo Bonucci
Eddie Howe can land the club their own Bonucci by signing de Vrij, as current Tottenham boss Antonio Conte once compared him to the Juventus icon.
The Italian head coach managed the Dutchman at Inter and previously heaped praise on his talent. He said:
"The growth of this team comes from assimilating certain concepts. Stefan [de Vrij], like Bonucci, becomes an important player because they must inevitably leave him room. Stefan is doing well. My defenders must be the first to rely on, even Godin had made assists against Udinese. We have to try it."
This is a big claim from Conte as Bonucci has been an elite performer throughout his career. He has been capped 115 times by Italy and won nine Serie A titles, along with the European Championship with his country last summer, which shows how highly de Vrij is rated by the Spurs boss.
The Dutch centre-back has also been dubbed a "monster" by his former Lazio teammate Mauricio and his statistics in the Serie A back up the high praise.
Since moving to Italy, he has averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.85 or higher in seven of his eight seasons for Lazio and Inter combined. This indicates that he has been consistently delivering quality performances at the back in the Italian top-flight over the course of the best part of a decade, which is why he would be a fantastic signing for Newcastle.
The 30-year-old is a proven, experienced, performer who will be able to slot straight into Howe's team at the back as he has shown that he is a reliable defender.
PIF must now take advantage of Inter's need for cash by stumping up the £15m required to take him away from the San Siro, so that he can join the Magpies and be their 'Bonucci' at the heart of the defence.