Imagine him & Carlos: NSWE could sign AVFC's new captain in £31.5m-rated "monster" - opinion

Italian football expert Conor Clancy has shared his verdict on reported Aston Villa target Stefan de Vrij.

Speaking to the GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider insisted that the Dutchman would be able to make an instant impact at Villa Park, amid reports that he is on Steven Gerrard’s radar this summer.

Asked about that possible interest in the 30-year-old, Clancy went as far as to suggest he could even be the club’s new skipper: “I think de Vrij would be a hugely important player immediately.

“He is the type of player that could come in and just be given the captain’s armband straight away.”

The Inter Milan centre-back could reportedly be available to NSWE for as little as £15m with just a year remaining on his existing deal, although it remains to be seen if the Midlands side will eye another defensive recruit, having confirmed an agreement for Sevilla’s Diego Carlos.

Even with that latest news regarding the Brazilian, there have been reports that NSWE could look to cash in on both Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa in the upcoming window, opening up the possibility that a further acquisition will be made.

Should that figure be De Vrij, it will no doubt go down well with the club’s supporters, with – as Clancy alluded to – the former Lazio man likely to come in and make a rapid improvement to Gerrard’s ailing backline.

The 55-cap international helped his current side claim a first Serie A title in 11 years back in 2021 under the tutelage of Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte, while he was again integral as Simone Inzaghi’s men narrowly missed out on a second successive Scudetto to rivals AC Milan in the most recent campaign.

The 2021/22 season saw the £31.5m-rated brute – who has been dubbed a “monster” by former teammate