Manchester United remain interested in signing Inter Milan defender Stefan De Vrij this summer, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown: Stellar career

Signed from Lazio as a free agent in 2018, De Vrij has played 164 times for Inter and played a huge role in the side that won the Serie A title in 2020/21.

The 30-year-old central defender has amassed 436 senior appearances across an illustrious career that has seen the Dutchman add an Italian Cup and two Italian Super Cups to the top-flight title.

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Tentatively linked with a move to Manchester recently, now it appears as though United are indeed in the frame to bring the experienced stalwart to the Premier League...

The latest: 'Cannot be ruled out'

As per Corriere della Sera, transcribed by SW, Manchester United are 'interested' in De Vrij.

It's claimed that the exit of the 57-cap Holland man 'cannot be ruled out' with the Red Devils attentive to the man billed as 'world class' by GIFN editor Kaustubh Pandey following a goalscoring display in a resounding 4-2 victory over arch-rivals AC Milan in 2020.

Inter Milan have needed to sell players in recent times owing to a perilous financial situation and could be open to further departures as the centre-back fast approaches the final 12 months of a deal in Milan (Transfermarkt).

The verdict: Shrewd move

Likely to be available for a cut-down price due to the dwindling contract, signing De Vrij this summer to sure up what was a leaky defence during 2021/22 would be a smart move from Erik ten Hag and John Murtough, particularly should Erik Bailly move on as mooted.

Last term, the 6 foot 2 tenacious defender - who shares a stylistic likeness with Atletico Madrid star Stefan Savic, Fiorentina powerhouse Nikola Milenkovic and United's own Raphael Varane (Fbref) - made 41 appearances across all competitions to underline continued durability to perform at the top level.

Currently earning £116,000 per week (Salary Sport), De Vrij represents an affordable and viable stopgap for the Old Trafford hierarchy before potentially pulling the trigger on a more expensive outlay next summer, having hopefully regained Champions League football by that point.