Chelsea are readying a £35 million move for Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij next summer transfer window, according to reports.
The Dutch defender has been heavily linked with a move out of Lazio but has reportedly made a decision to snub a January move to sign a new deal with the Serie A club and drive up his value for a summer swoop.
Reports in Italy have it that de Vrij will sign a deal which means the interested clubs will have to wait until summer to move for him for a fee around £35m.
The 24-year-old is regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe due to his solid display for Lazio and has also won 30 international caps with Netherlands.
With Chelsea set to lose the defensive duo of John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic at the end of the season, Antonio Conge has set sights on viable options to replace the stars and act as cover for likes of David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta at Stamford Bridge.
It is also understood that Juve centre-back Leonardo Bonucci is top target for the Blues as they also eye moves for Roma’s Antonio Rudiger and Burnley youngster Michael Keane in the summer transfer window.
However, Chelsea will have to rival a host of Premier League clubs who have also earmarked same targets as the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and City hope to sign reinforcements in the summer.
