Everton Set Their Sights On This Inter Milan Defender: What Will He Bring To Merseyside? | OneFootball

In a recent report, Calciomercato mentioned that Everton have set their sights on Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij this summer. It is believed that the Toffees could face competition from Atletico Madrid in pursuit of the Dutch centre-back in this off-season (via Calciomercato).

De Vrij’s Successful Campaign At San Siro

The 29-year-old had a solid campaign with the Milan giants in the previous campaign as he put in a run of commanding displays at the centre of the Inter backline. de Vrij made 42 appearances for the Dutch outfit last season, finding the back of the net once and securing four assists across all competitions.

The Dutch sensation was a consistent performer for the Italian outfit on the defensive end of the pitch based on his average of 0.9 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per 90 minutes in the previous Serie A campaign. His incredible contributions helped Inter win the league title last season. Plus, de Vrij deserves a pat on the back for distributing possession with accuracy from the back after completing 93.8% of his attempted passes in the top tier of Italian football (stats via whoscored).

The ex-Feyenoord defensive ace is currently playing at his peak, so this summer could be a good opportunity for him to switch clubs in search of a fresh adventure away from San Siro. Everton would be a perfect destination for him as de Vrij might enjoy playing in Rafael Benitez’s brand of football at Goodison Park.

Db Milano 25/04/2021 – campionato di calcio serie A / Inter-Hellas Verona / foto Daniele Buffa/Image nella foto: Stefan De Vrij-Kevin Lasagna PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA

What Will The Dutch Defender Bring To Merseyside?

De Vrij has got a wealth of experience under his belt which he can use to dominate the opposition inside his half. Standing at 1.89m, he is a strong presence at the back and can win his fair share of aerial duels for his team. The 49-time Netherlands international is often quick to scan the danger and can time his tackles well to secure possession back on the defensive end of the field. He is even a tidy passer of the ball who excels at playing his way out from the back.

We can expect de Vrij to bring a lot of quality to the blue half of Merseyside as he has all the skillset required to succeed under a world-class tactician like Benitez. The Dutch centre-back could also go on to form a dominant defensive partnership with Yerry Mina and Michael Keane at Goodison Park in the coming seasons.

At 29, de Vrij still has a few good years left in him and could help the Toffees end their long wait for a major trophy over the next few years. However, there are some question marks over whether the Dutchman can cope with the high intensity of Premier League football. Even then, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting him, so Benitez should think about sealing a move for the Inter star this summer.