9 Apr 2014

BR wants top-class £15m star who rejected LFC in 2013

Last year, Liverpool were strongly linked with Feyenoord defender Stefan De Vrij, and the with 22-year old defender now refusing to sign a new deal, the Reds are reportedly planning another bid to sign the Dutch star this summer.

In December 2012, the Liverpool Echo reported that Brendan Rodgers sent scouts to watch De Vrij - Feyenoord's captain - in action.

Soon after, £15m-rated De Vrij admitted to being flattered by Liverpool's interest. He told reporters:

"It's nice to hear such big clubs are interested in you, but I'm not making a transfer."

De Vrij ultimately rejected a move to Anfield, but Liverpool seem to be interested again. Sccording to Sky Sports today:

"Promising centre-half De Vrij [is] strongly linked with a move to Liverpool [and] the Reds [are] looking at the 22-year-old as a possible addition for the present and future"

When asked about De Vrij's future today, Feyenoord Technical director Martin van Geel told Algemeen Dagblad:

"Talks have stopped and we will wait for the summer. With De Vrij, we have already made a decision to wait until after the World Cup."

Based on his previous comments, it doesn't appear that De Vrij is keen on moving to the Premier League. In March 2011, he said:

"It'll be best for my career to move to Spain or Germany when I decide to leave Feyenoord... teams from those countries show better build-up play than English teams.

Then, in November 2012, De Vrij reiterated his strong desire to pursue a career in Spain. He told TalkSport:

"It is my ultimate dream to eventually join Barcelona. I think I have what it takes to end up at a club like that at some point in my career"

Given the suspension of transfer talks, Feyenoord may choose to cash in during the upcoming transfer window, rather than risk losing De Vrij on a free later down the line. The defender's stats this season:

* 29 appearances.
* Four goals/1 assists
* Aerial duels: 60% success rate.
* 65 tackles (2.2 per game)
* 57 interceptions (2 per game)
* 177 clearances (6.1 per game)
* 16 blocks (0.6 per game)
* 87% passing accuracy.
* Averages 55 passes per game.

STATS: Opta

177 clearances in 29 games is the highest rate of all the central defenders linked to Liverpool over the last year. Possible replacement for Coates, or Agger...?

Author:


25 comments:

  1. possible replacement for them both ! bring in lascellas aswell

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  2. His stats look good but you have to take account of where he'ss playing but most significantly he doesn't appear to have a nickname so he can't be that good.

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  3. True. Defenders in the Dutch league couldn't possibly come up against world class strikers like Suarez or Van Nistelrooy...oh wait..

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  4. OK you're right about individual players but for the stats to be meaningful they have to allow for the overall quality of the teams in that league. I would respectfully suggest they are not among the top leagues and the stat therefore need to e viewed with a little caution.


    But you have ignored my main point - that he is not even worthy of a nickname :-)

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  5. If his contract expires in 2016, how is he 'free' to depart next summer (2015)?

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  6. If he wants a team with good build up play, he'd enjoy himself with us. De Vrij is an excellent player, and I think we should move Agger on if we want bring him in...he's been a fantastic servant for the club and I love the guy, but the truth is he's getting on in years, is injury prone, and won't retain his value for too many more years. If we can still get some cash for him then we should take it, bring in De Vrij and have him and Skrtel compete for the spot alongside Sakho...and bring Ilori back from Spain and give him apps in the cups. What I'd really like, though, is if we could snap up Montoya on a free, that would be great business.

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  7. Just remember thats the league we've got some of our best sgnings in recent years, sammy hyypia' durk kuyt and luis suarez. Its allways produced great players down the years.

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  8. Howard Webb has been dealt a blow by being overlooked for Sunday’s crucial title clash between Liverpool and Manchester City.



    +1 for us!

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  9. Man U,s turd of a season finally swirls down the pan :)

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  10. Yeah f*** off Utd, and f*** off barca!!!!!! wooooo!!

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  11. Aaaah! So, that's how. He almost pulled the wool over my eyes. Such amazing insights, you must be under the tutelage of the 'Special One'

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  12. Mate, you really do come up with some weird comments. But keep em coming! :)

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  13. We live in a weird world.............!

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  14. Ah...well. I suppose we'll see more banners now...so what.

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  15. Before everyone starts bad mouthing Dutch football... Need everyone be reminded which team Suarez played for before joining us and becoming a cult hero!

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  16. Well that shouldn't take long. After he moves to England it will quickly become Stevo or Vrayie :-)

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  17. There is actually some truth to that story. He did, in fact, when he was only a wee lad with mischief in his eyes, once, learn to point out England on a map. On the streets of Rotterdam, that was the closest any kid would come to a holiday poor bugger he was.

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  18. Oh man we must be getting Phil Dowd then...worst case scenario

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  19. In fairness, Babel came from there too :-)

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  20. Mark Clattenburg will be the referee.

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  21. Sign him quick!

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  22. No dispute their but please note I am just warning about taking the stats at face value. :-)

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  23. Who is bad mouthing Dutch football? Please read the posts properly.

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  24. Woohoo - 3 penalties, Suarez and Sturridge customary goals. We're 5-0 up before we started! It will be murder!

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  25. He isn't worth £15m. Believe me, I see him playing every single week and he's worth max £8m

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