Newcastle United are enjoying a phenomenal season in the Premier League so far and are currently third in the table after conceding just one defeat in their first 15 outings.

Eddie Howe will be hopeful that his team can continue their impeccable run of form to retain their spot inside the top four in order to qualify for the Champions League next season ahead of schedule in the project since the takeover just over 12 months ago.

A way the manager can ensure his team stays in a good position to compete for a top spot in the top flight is by taking advantage of the opportunity to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window, and the club have already been linked with some fantastic talent.

One player who has been linked with a move to St James' Park on many occasions is Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij, and he could be the perfect player to add quality to depth to the Magpies' defence over the second half of the season, especially considering the latest development.

It has been reported this week that De Vrij will be available for just €5m (£4m) due to his contract expiration in the summer of 2024 and the cut price transfer fee could be extremely tempting for Newcastle in their efforts to strengthen mid-season.

Over 12 Serie A appearances, the 30-year-old ace has scored one goal, tallied up a pass completion rate of 92% in his own half and completed 100% of his dribbles, as well as averaging two interceptions, one tackle, three clearances and winning 4.3 duels per game.

The talented centre-back has been the recipient of high praise with his former Lazio teammate Mauricio hailing De Vrij "excellent" in a glowing review of his talents:

“Stefan is a great defender and deserves to be at a big club. He’s very tall, he’s strong and fast, he runs a lot – he’s a monster!"

“He also has excellent technique and knows how to play the ball like few others, and that’s the difference between him and other players. He’s a calm defender who never gets agitated.”

With that being said, PIF could save millions by taking the golden opportunity to sign De Vrij as Newcastle continue their pursuit to retain their dominance in the Premier League and he could undoubtedly be a valuable asset to the team in the coming months ahead.