Micky van de Ven has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool amid the ongoing turmoil at Tottenham, but Spurs understandable want to keep hold of the key defender
06:00, 23 Jan 2026
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven(Image: 2026 CameraSport)
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank urged the club to prioritize keeping hold of Micky van de Ven, amid speculation linking him with a move away from North London.
Van de Ven has emerged as one of the Premier League's best defenders since his move to Spurs in 2023, but he is understandably not pleased with how the club is performing at the moment.
Van de Ven may have won the Europa League with Tottenham last year but the team's Premier League form has been abysmal – Tottenham finished 17th last season and is currently 14th after 22 games of this season.
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The player is deserving of playing for a team that is competing at the top end of the table, and Team Talk reported this week that Liverpool could look to sign him later this year.
The Reds are in a precarious position at center-half, with Ibrahima Konate into the final six months of his contract, and Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez into the last 18 months of their deals.
Van de Ven is contracted to Spurs until 2029, which puts the club in a strong position to demand a big fee for the player, but Frank does not think that selling Van de Ven is something the club should entertain.
"He's definitely a player we should prioritize [keeping happy]," said Frank, who admitted he was unaware as to how negotiations over an improved contract for Van de Ven at Spurs were going.
Thomas Frank spoke about Van de Ven's future
Thomas Frank spoke about Van de Ven's future(Image: Getty Images)
"Definitely, for me, Micky is a key player for this team and this club and hopefully for many years to come.
"He has what it takes to be an even better player and I've no doubt he can help us to get us to where we want to be in the future.'
Asked whether Van de Ven was still happy at Spurs, Frank responded: "I just saw him, and he seemed very happy, smiling. He was happy after the game that we won [against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League] when he was in the changing room after the game.
"Micky is an excellent player and a fantastic ambassador for this club. He has potentially the best season he's had so far.
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"He's fit, he's strong, good defensively. He's growing as a leader, scoring goals as well. He's a very important player for us this season and for the future."