Liverpool have tabled a £17.3million bid for Lazio centre-back Stefan de Vrij, according to Sky Italy.
The broadcaster, as cited by Football Italia, reported on Wednesday night that the Premier League club’s opening offer has been rejected but the Serie A outfit are willing to listen to offers for De Vrij.
Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solkehol reported that Lazio want £30million for the 25-year-old, who is a mainstay for both club and his country Holland.
Sky in Italy: Liverpool interested in Lazio & Holland defender Stefan de Vrij as alternative to Virgil van Dijk. Lazio want £30m
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) June 7, 2017
Liverpool have been forced to target alternative central defenders after officially ending their pursuit of Virgil van Dijk following an embarrassing U-turn.
The Merseysiders announced a major development in their pursuit of the centre-back on their official club website on Wednesday as they apologised to his club Southampton and confirmed that they are no longer going to try to sign him.
Van Dijk’s countryman and Holland centre-back partner De Vrij has a glowing reputation following three impressive seasons for Lazio since joining from Feyenoord in the summer of 2014.
He played a major part in helping Lazio finish fifth in the Italian top tier in the recently completed domestic season.
De Vrij made 31 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and supplying three assists.
Intriguingly, the defender is out of contract at Lazio in 12 months, which gives other clubs genuine hope of prising him from Italy in the summer transfer window.