After missing out on a number of defensive targets in the summer, Chelsea seems set to swoop for Stefan de Vrij of Lazio. The Dutch defender moved to the Italian side at the start of the 2014 season and was a mainstay for the side in his first season.
Chelsea are keen to bolster their defence as they seek a replacement for John Terry. De Vrij does seem to be an expensive option for the Blues as there have been reports that a £34 million bid was rejected earlier in the summer.
De Vrij was one of the standout players in the 2014 World Cup but his career has not panned out perfectly as he missed a large chunk of the 2015-16 season due to injury. Chelsea might see him as a great option but here are three reasons why Antonio Conte should not sign the Dutch defender.
Still recovering from his injury lay-off
The Dutch defender might have been one of the best players in the World Cup but an injury can curtail all the hard work you do. That is exactly what happened to Kevin Strootman and a similar story has unfolded for De Vrij.
The 24-year-old picked up a nasty knee injury which ensured he only made two appearances in the Serie A all season last time around. De Vrij has only returned to first team action this season and he needs more time on his hand to get better.
Chelsea should only try to purchase him at the end of the season and not in the winter window. The more minutes he gets under his belt, the better it would be for his confidence and ability too.
The price quoted is ludicrous
Lazio will be holding out for more than the £34 million that Chelsea had reportedly bid for De Vrij. That is a crazy sum of money for a player that hasn’t ever played in the Premier League. Spending that much money would be a big risk for the Blues and that isn’t what Chelsea seem to be about.
Sure they spent big on Michy Batshuayi but the Belgian striker performed for Marseille last season. The same cannot be said about the Dutch defender who is slowly getting back to his best. There is a possibility that De Vrij would actually perform out of his socks this season and that would only increase his valuation. But that would only mean that Chelsea would rather be spending money on a player at his best and not be a risk.
There are better options in the Premier League
Chelsea might have all the money in the world but they should rather look at better options in the Premier League. Scott Dann has often been linked with a move to the Blues and he would be a cheaper option. Sure Dann might not be a young defender but his experience in playing the Premier League football would be an added bonus for Chelsea.
The Blues have also been linked with a move for Ben Gibson from Middlesbrough and the English defender would be a cheaper option than De Vrij.
Chelsea might have spent a crazy amount in bringing back David Luiz but was also due to the fact that the Brazilian has Premier League experience. De Vrij isn’t at the top of his game yet and would actually be a risk for the Blues, something they could do without in the winter window.