The chase is on for De Vrij

Several Premier League clubs are sniffing around Stefan De Vrij according to Sky Sports.

The 20-year-old centre back plays for Feyenoord and is believed to have turned down the chance to play in England already as clubs came calling for him last summer.  De Vrij is a Dutch international and is Feyenoord's captain.  He made his full internatonal debut for Holland in a friendly against Belgium in August this year.

Apparently Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United are chasing the highly thought-of defender.  With a year and a half left on his contract at De Kuip, Feyenoord might be tempted with a bid in excess of €10 million.

Since he made his debut in September 2009 De Vrij has played eighty-seven games in all competitions for the Dutch club and was named captain after Ron Vlaar left to join Aston Villa. 

He started out as a central midfielder but has been moulded into a centre back since joining the Rotterdam based team.  Feyenoord, fifth in the Eredivisie, are unbeaten in the last five league games and De Vrij has played nine times this season.  A very exciting prospect, probably not schooled in the punt it out of the box and shove the striker over way of thinking but he has time to learn.

Peter Stickney

Follow @peterstickney