Liverpool transfer target Stefan de Vrij looks set to be on the move this summer after Lazio director Igli Tare announced the club had withdrawn a new contract offer.
The Netherlands international defender is out of contract this summer and has been locked in negotiations with the club about an extension for several months.
Several reports had emerged in recent days to suggest that the 26-year-old was considering other options, with Inter Milan seemingly his most likely destination.
As reported by Football Italia, Lazio have now announced that they have withdrawn their contract offer to de Vrij, who will leave the club on a free transfer this summer after four years.
Club director of sport Tare said: “Lazio have withdrawn the proposal we made for a new contract to De Vrij. We are withdrawing for reasons that we will explain later on. It was a choice made after many months of negotiations, but there is also a limit to how things went.
“He has been an exemplary professional and we thank him for that as well as what he’ll do until the end of the season. He gave a lot to the club, just as we gave a great deal to him, but our paths will divide in June.”
Good move for Liverpool?
Yes. The 26-year-old has also been linked to Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus and Inter Milan in recent months.
De Vrij joined Lazio from Feyenoord in the summer of 2014 after starring for the Netherlands in their run to the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.
He has made 99 appearances for the club in his time in Rome, scoring seven goals and winning the 2017/18 Italian Super Cup.
This is an exciting development for Liverpool, who have been tracking de Vrij for a while. A potential centre-back partnership between him and international teammate Virgil van Dijk would be solid for the Reds.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
De Vrij looked likely to sign a new deal with Lazio after he remained at the club in the January transfer window, but it looks as though their relationship will come to an end this summer.
Lazio have obviously grown frustrated with the Netherlands international’s failure to put pen to paper on their new offer, and have decided to draw a line under the contract stand-off.
Where de Vrij will end up is unknown, but Liverpool is definitely an option.
This is Futbol rating: 5/10