Lazio are on the verge of signing Dutch international defender Stefan De Vrij, but reports suggest city rivals Roma made a late bid to sign the player themselves.
De Vrij arrived in Rome on Monday to complete a €8.5 million transfer to Lazio from Feyenoord, with the 22 year old central defender due to sign a five year contract worth €1.3m a year, but reports in Italy suggest Roma tried to steal a march on their rivals for the second time in a week.
According to newspaper Il Tempo, Roma director of football Walter Sabatini contacted Feyenoord and the players representatives on Monday to discuss moving to the Giallorossi, but De Vrij was intent on joining the Biancocelesti and so the discussion never became serious.
The news is sure to enrage Lazio fans following last week’s debacle involving Italian international center back Davide Astori, who joined Roma from Cagliari despite months of negotiations between Lazio and Sardinian club.
The Astori transfer has caused uproar among Lazio fans blaming president Claudio Lotito for being too prudent with money and losing out on a another big name player, but the transfer of De Vrij is a signal of intent from the under fire president as he beat off competition from Manchester United to land the Dutchman.
