January Newcastle target de Vrij impresses in Champions League

Newcastle reportedly tried to sign Inter defender Stefan de Vrij in the January transfer window to bolster their backline.

The centre-half turned down the move to St James’ Park at a time when he is in a fight for the Serie A title at the San Siro.

Inter can also offer him Champions League nights like the one he had against Liverpool last night as the competition returns for the last 16 stage.

Inter eventually went down 2-0 thanks to goals from Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino but more than matched their visitors to that point.

De Vrij played his part in that, making more clearances than any player in black and blue stripes according to WhoScored (5).

He also won five headers on the night – the most in the Inter team – and had 71 touches, as he showed his class on the ball.

Unfortunately, Liverpool’s quality eventually won out and that looks like putting them into the last eight already in truth.

These are the nights Newcastle want to get back to eventually and bringing in players of the quality of de Vrij would help them get there.

But the immediate goal is survival and the key now is to build on the momentum generated by three straight wins when they face West Ham on Saturday.