Belgian side Mechelen are keen to sign Inter Milan defender Zinho Vanheusden.

This according to Belgiaj journalist Sacha Tavolieri. He reports in a tweet that the Jupiler Pro League side see the 24-year-old as a prospective replacement for David Bates in defense, and that Inter would be open to selling him.

Vanheusden has spent the season just gone on loan with Standard Liege.

Standard has long been the club where the Belgian defender has shown his best form.

Vanheusden had never made an appearance for Inter’s first team.

There had been loan spells out to the likes of Genoa and AZ Alkmaar.

However, injuries have been a persistent theme of these previous loan spells. Vanheusden has never been able to nail down a place for himself in most of the clubs he’s played at due to a string of injuries.

At Standard, by contrast, Vanheusden received regular playing time this past season.

Naturally, this raised some hope that the 24-year-old would finally make the move away from Inter to a stable permanent club, once and for all.

Vanheusden made a total of 22 league appearances for Standard in his season on loan.

Mechelen Interested In Signing Inter Defender Zinho Vanheusden

But Standard will not be making the loan of Vanheusden a permanent deal, despite having had a purchase option on the Belgian.

The reason is that the price tag would be high for Standard.

Therefore, Vanheusden is back at Inter for the summer.

But it does not look likely that Inter will keep the 24-year-old for next season.

Moreover, the Nerazzurri’s aim would be to sell Vanheusden on a permanent basis this summer, once and for all, rather than sending him out on yet another loan.

And according to Belgian journalist Tavolieri, a prospective new destination has emerged in Vanheusden’s native Belgium.

He reports that Mechelen are looking for a replacement for 27-year-old Scottish defender David Bates. And Vanheusden is one of the club’s targets.

Moreover, Tavolieri reports, Inter would be willing to listen to offers from Mechelen.

The question, then, is whether the Belgian club will make a sufficient offer for Inter, and whether or not they will be able to convince Vanheusden.