Sassuolo are preparing to fight Standard Liege to sign Inter’s young defender Zinho Vanheusden, according to reports in Belgium.

The 19-year-old last week seemed certain to rejoin Standard on a permanent deal for €20 million, having spent the last 18 months on loan there.

However, Het Laatste Nieuws today reported the Neroverdi have expressed an interest in the centre-back, along with a few clubs in the Premier League.

Vanheusden will give preference to Standard after performing well for them last season, but it remains to be seen what Inter will decide.

Reports elsewhere on Wednesday suggested Sassuolo had been put off by Inter’s asking price for the defender, instead opting to pursue a deal for defender Andrew Gravillon.

Vanheusden was a first-choice player for Michel Preud’homme’s side during the 2018-19 campaign, before a knee injury ruled him out of their end-of-season playoffs.

The teenager never made his first-team debut for Inter despite impressing in the Nerzzurri’s Primavera side.