Torino’s Schuurs Inter Milan’s Dream Target To Replace Stefan De Vrij But Roma’s Smalling More Cost-Effective, Italian Media Report | OneFootball

Inter’s dream target to replace Stefan de Vrij at the end of the season should he not extend his contract would be Torino defender Perr Schuurs, but the Granata player could be out of reach financially.

This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInter1908, who report that Roma defender Chris Smalling would be the more cost-effective like-for-like replacement for de Vrij given that he would be available on a free transfer.

It remains to be seen whether or not de Vrij will decide to extend his contract with Inter.

The 31-year-old is the subject of interest from La Liga side Villarreal as well as teams in Major League Soccer, but he also has the offer of a two-year contract extension at around the same wages that he currently earns from the Nerazzurri.

Should the former Lazio and Feyenoord defender decline Inter’s offer of a new deal, then the club will go in search of a defender with a similar profile to take his place in the squad.

According to Tuttosport, Schuurs would be the ambitious target to take de Vrij’s place, as the 23-year-old former Ajax player is seen as having the ideal stylistic profile to replace his fellow Dutchman.

However, Torino are likely to demand a good-sized transfer fee for Schuurs, something that would hardly be within the Nerazzurri’s reach.

By contrast, Smalling could be available on a free transfer if he does not extend his contract with Roma past the end of June.

If the Nerazzurri were to move for the Englishman as a replacement for de Vrij, then they could replace one player leaving on a free transfer with another of a similar profile also arriving without a transfer fee.