Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Stefan de Vrij and Matthias Verreth

Arsenal are reportedly ready to rival Chelsea for the services of Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij, while the Gunners are also keeping an eye on PSV Eindhoven's Matthias Verreth, the latest in a long line of Belgian talents.

According to TalkSport (h/t Goal), De Vrij and Lazio aren't making a lot of progress in contract negotiations, and with his deal set to expire in 2018, Chelsea and Arsenal are taking note.

The Blues have been linked with the former Feyenoord man before, and given their lack of depth options, their interest makes sense. The report suggests Lazio could choose to cash in if a new deal can't be reached with the 24-year-old.

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Italian newspaper Il Tempo (h/t Football Italia) has a different view, believing De Vrij will sign a new deal with his club. However, the contract would include a release clause of just €40 million, a fee well within the budgets of major Premier League clubs.

Release clauses aren't a regular thing in Italy, although there has been an increase in recent years.

De Vrij made a surprise move to Lazio in 2014 and has been a regular for the team when fit, impressing with his solid positional skills, athleticism and comfort on the ball. Like most Dutch defenders, he was trained to be effective in the passing game as well as with the defensive aspects.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

De Vrij is an excellent defender who would fit Arsenal's attacking approach based around ball retention and quick passing, but his health is a major concern. The Netherlands international is currently sidelined with an injury, the latest in a long line of knocks and setbacks.

As reported by Transfermarkt, he missed the bulk of the 2015-16 season with a serious knee injury, and most interested teams would likely be cautious when chasing him and opt to spend more time investigating his knee.

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The Gunners don't have a clear need for another defender, with Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi penciled in as the starters. You can never have too much depth, but it would make little sense to spend big on a bench option, particularly if De Vrij signs his new deal.

Elsewhere, Calciomercato and TalkSport (h/t Goal) have reported manager Arsene Wenger is looking at the future, chasing two impressive prospects. Juventus starlet Moise Kean has long been linked with the Gunners, but a new name has also popped up in PSV's Verreth.

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The teenager plays for Jong PSV, the club's second team, and he's been on fire of late, guiding the side to third place in the Dutch second division, the Eerste Divisie. The forward made the move to the Netherlands in 2007, and it was clearly the right one, as he's becoming one of the most wanted talents in the Benelux.

As shared by Ziggo Sport Totaal, he recently did this in a UEFA Youth League clash with Bayern Munich:

Here's a look at some of his highlights from last year's U-17 World Cup, where he guided Belgium to a surprise third-place finish:

While Kean is widely expected to sign a contract with Juventus, Verreth's future is less clear. PSV still haven't called him up to the first team, even though he seems more than ready. If the situation persists, the Belgian might be tempted to cross the North Sea to try his luck in the Premier League.

The Eredivisie has a great reputation when it comes to youth development, however, and Verreth has so far made all the right moves for his career. In all likelihood, he'll stay in the Netherlands for now.