By Wayne Veysey

10th Dec, 2022 | 1:49pm

Sources: Tottenham frontrunners to sign Stefan de Vrij amid January update

Tottenham have emerged as the frontrunners with Atletico Madrid to sign Stefan de Vrij with a January deal possible, sources have told Football Insider.

Multiple clubs have enquired about the Inter Milan defender, whose contract is due to expire next summer.

They have included Spanish big guns Atletico and Spurs, managed by Antonio Conte and close to De Vrij from their Serie A-winning days at Inter.

The two teams now lead the race to land De Vrij, who turns 31 in February and is increasingly likely to leave the Italian giants next year.

Spurs are in the market for a new defender in January as they look to secure an upgrade on their current roster of centre-backs.

De Vrij fits the bill for Conte, who is already believed to have spoken to the player about a potential January move.

The Holland international has been told he will be offered a new deal but the Serie A giants have yet to do so and the player’s future is up in the air going into the winter window.

Previously valued at around £40million last year, the Dutch star could now be available at a knockdown price in January.

That has opened the door to De Vrij’s Premier League suitors, who include Tottenham.

Spurs boss Antonio Conte has long been a huge admirer of De Vrij and was keen to lure him to Spurs in January of this year after managing him during his successful Inter reign.

But the Italian giants would not sell mid-season and Tottenham went on to sign Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona during the summer.

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