Monday 19 February 2018 21:23, UK
Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij looks likely to leave in June with his contract renewal having been withdrawn, according to the the Italian club's sporting director.
Sky in Italy reported last summer that Liverpool were interested in signing the 26-year-old Dutchman.
His current deal is due to expire at the end of the season and negotiations for an extension have dragged on.
It means that De Vrij would be a free agent after June.
Speaking ahead of Monday night's Serie A match with Verona, Lazio's sporting director Igli Tare told Mediaset Premium: "Lazio have withdrawn the proposal we made for a new contract to De Vrij.
"We are withdrawing for reasons that we will explain later on. It was a choice made after many months of negotiations, but there is also a limit to how things went.
"He has been an exemplary professional and we thank him for that as well as what he'll do until the end of the season. He gave a lot to the club, just as we gave a great deal to him, but our paths will divide in June.
"It's a matter of fairness. This is not the opportune time to give the reasons for this decision, but we had to give a response and we gave it this evening.
"It is better to look forward, as Lazio are a side who have grown in recent years and will continue to grow, because we certainly do not lack players."
There have been reports of De Vrij being a target for league rivals Juventus and Inter Milan, as well as Manchester City and Manchester United.
"It's not an issue of him agreeing terms with other clubs, but of being fair in negotiations," continued former Albania striker Tare.
"We did things the right way, but things changed at the last moment. We no longer wish to continue along this path. The only thing certain is that in the world there are no lack of players."
De Vrij joined Lazio in 2014 from Dutch side Feyenoord.
