Lazio look likely to land Manchester United target Stefan de Vrij by Tuesday at the latest after meeting with his representatives in Rome.
According to Italian source Il Messaggero, talks regarding the permanent signature of the Feyenoord defender were productive and will continue in Rotterdam in the next 48 hours with a view to completing a deal.
The Serie A outfit are now firm favourites to pip United to the post, despite the presence of de Vrij’s former Netherlands mentor Louis van Gaal in the Red Devils hotseat.
Should the transfer go through, van Gaal will swiftly turn his attention to other central defenders – a position in which he is desperately short following the duel departure of veterans Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
Ex-England man Ferdinand has joined Queens Park Rangers and his long-term partner at Old Trafford, Vidic, is now an Inter Milan player.
Feyenoord are believed to be holding out for a fee of around £9.5million for one of their leading performers and Lazio are said to have softened their stance over the weekend, having initially been reluctant to top the £5m mark.
The 22-year-old played a key role in van Gaal’s Holland side during their run to the World Cup semi-finals in Brazil.