‘Helped me’: £13m ace shares how Leicester target convinced him to snub Everton, amid links

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Denzel Dumfries has revealed, via Calciomercato, he spoke with Leicester City target Stefan De Vrij about joining Inter Milan before overlooking interest from Everton this summer.

Dumfries completed a permanent €15m (£13m) move to the San Siro on Sunday to replace Achraf Hakimi. The Nerazzurri courted the Dutch full-back all summer with Hakimi always likely to leave the Serie A champions. He eventually joined Paris Saint-Germain for £52m.

Everton were also in the mix to sign Dumfries from PSV Eindhoven, after the 25-year-old impressed at Euro 2020. The move received Rafa Benitez’s backing after several talks with Director of Football Marcel Brands, too, per the Liverpool Echo.

Benitez agreed with Brands after the Everton executive suggested they bring Dumfries to Goodison Park to rival Seamus Coleman. The Toffees had been searching for the Irishman’s long-term replacement for several months before appointing the Spaniard to the helm.

But Dumfries chose against joining Everton as Coleman’s eventual successor to secure a move to Italian giants Inter Milan instead. The full-back has now shared the role De Vrij played in his decision, having built a strong relationship with his compatriot in the past.

“I often heard from Stefan even before signing for Inter,” Dumfries noted. “He helped me a lot, we talk to each other. I also talked to [Inter Milan head coach] Simone Inzaghi. De Vrij and I are good friends and we also come from the same city. I know him well, I am happy that he is here and that we will be teammates.”

Leicester target De Vrij helped Inter Milan sign Everton target Dumfries

Dumfries’ revelation would suggest the Inter Milan signing was, at least partly, convinced to overlook Everton by a Leicester target in De Vrij. The Foxes courted the Dutch centre-half after losing Wesley Fofana until 2022 with a fractured right fibula, per Calciomercato.

But Inter Milan had no interest in letting De Vrij leave the Serie A champions and are now working to award him a new contract. Leicester’s interest could also see De Vrij secure a pay rise as Mino Raiola discusses terms with the Nerazzurri.

And while Leicester found an alternative in a matter of days by signing Jannik Vestergaard from Southampton, Everton’s search continues. Benitez and Brands now have two weeks to find an alternative for Dumfries if they are to secure Coleman’s competitor.