Six top Premier League sides in for Feyenoord captain

Come the summer, we expect a flurry of transfer activity, both in and out of the premier league, and one name that is on most premier league manger’s mind is that of the Dutch international and Feyenoord club captain Stefan De Vrij.

De Vrij is currently plying his trade in Eredivisie with Feyenoord, the southwest club he joined as a 10 year old academy player. After having made the grade at the club’s academy, De Vrij signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2009, aged just 17. He made his first team debut in 2009, coming on as a 58^th minute substitute in the KNVB cup. Later that year, De Vrij made his League debut as a substitute in a 3-1 victory over FC Groningen.

De Vrij is known for his pace, which he has in abundance, as well as being able to keep calm under the toughest of circumstances. Now 21, the 6’2 (1.88 m) center back has represented Feyenoord 101 times and has gone on to play for Holland 3 times, his debut coming in a recent 2-4 loss against Belgium.

As things stand, De Vrij is contracted to Feyenoord till the summer of 2014 and has reportedly rejected offers that the Rotterdam outfit have twice made. This means that, come summer, one of the most exciting defenders in Europe could be available for a cut price deal, with only 12 months remaining on his contract. It has also been reported that the Rotterdam giants will listen to offers for one of their prized assets and he could be available for a fee of around £ 4-5 million.

De Vrij is not short of admirers, with plenty of big English clubs eyeing his signature – Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are all rumored to be in the hunt. So, whoever wants him would have to pull out all the stops.

One can see Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham especially pressing ahead with the deal. In the case of Liverpool and Newcastle, they are both likely to lose players like Fabricio Coloccini and Jamie Carragher, with players like Sebastian Coates and Mike Williamson not inspiring any confidence. Spurs may lose William Gallas, and Younes Kaboul has been injured quite a bit in the last couple of years. Arsenal too could spend big to end their long trophy drought.

I am thoroughly excited by the prospect of De Vrij joining the Premier League and believe this is exactly the caliber of player that can make the premier league even better.

As a Newcastle united supporter, I really hope we can get him. Apparently, the club’s chief scout is reported to have watched him in the weekend clash between Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven. Given the caliber and the competition the club reportedly faces, it would be quite a coup for the club if a deal can be thrashed out.