Liverpool Submit £17m Bid As Klopp Eyes Cut-Price Deal For Serie A Star

Managers are now pressing ahead with their plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Liverpool make their move for Stefan de Vrij…

Liverpool have tabled a £17.3m bid for Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij as Jurgen Klopp looks to find a new centre-back following their embarrassing pursuit of Virgil van Dijk, according to a report in the Metro.

Klopp is looking to strengthen his defensive options as a leaky defence undermined any hopes of mounting a serious title challenge last season and van Dijk was widely reported to be his primary target.

A deal looked to be on the cards but Liverpool were forced to issue a public apology to Southampton and end their pursuit after the Saints made a complaint to the Premier League about the Merseysiders conduct.

It looks like Liverpool have wasted no time in moving on to other targets as the Metro are citing a report coming from Sky Italia that claims the Reds have tabled an opening £17.3m offer for de Vrij.

The report says Lazio are holding out for a fee closer to £30m but Liverpool are confident they’ll be able to negotiate a lower price given the centre-backs contract situation.

De Vrij is about to enter the final year of his current deal and has shown reluctance to sign an extension meaning Lazio will be forced to cash-in this summer or risk losing him for nothing in 12 months time.

The Dutch international joined Lazio from Feyenoord in 2014 and has overcome some injury problems to become one of the most consistent central defenders in Serie A over the past three seasons.

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At 25, de Vrij still has his best years ahead of him and he’d obviously be a much cheaper alternative to compatriot van Dijk so it could be a shrewd piece of business if Liverpool can pull off a deal.