Stefan de Vrij rules out new deal with Lazio
Stefan de Vrij has turned out to be one of Barcelona’s primary summer targets. And the rumours have been fueled by the fact that he is not signing a contract extension with Lazio. The Dutch defender’s contract ends next summer, and he will become a free agent when it does.
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Reportedly, with this new development, Barça and Inter Milan have pulled ahead in the race for his signature. De Vrij’s representatives held talks with their Barça and Inter counterparts after they decided that De Vrij was to leave Lazio in the summer.
Barcelona are looking to offer the Dutchman a huge contract, especially considering that no transfer fee will be required to sign him. If the club does sign him, it will be a huge win for the management.
With Mascherano’s departure looming, the management has prepared a loan bid for David Luiz. If the club manages to rope in Stefan de Vrij on a free transfer after Luiz’s loan finishes, it will go a long way in restoring the board’s credibility in the transfer market.
Barcelona submit loan offer for David Luiz
Reports in France claim Barcelona have made a loan bid for Chelsea outcast David Luiz https://t.co/q60awDtPTN #CFC #Barcelona
— Express Sport (@DExpress_Sport) December 22, 2017
Barcelona finally seem to have formulated a strategy to combat the imminent departure of Javier Mascherano. ‘El Jefecito’ feels that his time at the Camp Nou is over and is gunning for a move to Hebei China Fortune, where he will get more minutes.
Initially, the club had considered exercising the option on Yerry Mina earlier than intended. But now, Barcelona are looking to bring in a more adequate replacement for Mascherano. David Luiz is unhappy at Chelsea, after being benched by Antonio Conte.
The Brazilian is looking to engineer a move away from Stamford Bridge and prefers Barcelona as his next destination. The club has also reciprocated interest, and have submitted a loan offer to Chelsea.
The club’s representatives have also conversed with Luiz himself, when he had come to see a knee specialist in the city. Barcelona are looking for a straight loan till the end of the season, by which time the management will have figured out the ideal signing.
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It will be a mutually beneficial deal, as David Luiz will get more playing time before the World Cup and Ernesto Valverde will get a short-term replacement for Javier Mascherano.