Micky van de Ven has emerged as a potential big-money target as Liverpool aim to secure the future of their defence this year.
The Reds had been expected to make a centre-back signing this January, but that is becoming increasingly unlikely as time ticks down on the window.
Instead, a summer arrival is now more probable, and with Ibrahima Konate set to leave on a free transfer, Liverpool need a player who can join as an immediate starter.
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
Tottenham want a British transfer record for Micky van de Ven! Surely there are cheaper alternatives? šµāš«
Micky van de Ven in action for Tottenham Hotspur during their UEFA Champions League match against Slavia Prague at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images
š Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Having spent the past three years impressing with Tottenham Hotspur, Van de Ven would be a candidate for that.
Unbelievably, there have been suggestions that Spurs would want more than Ā£125m to sell Van de Ven to Liverpool. But as journalist Ben Jacobs points out, the player himself may force his clubās hand as he delays talks over a new contract.
Micky van de Ven waiting for assurances from Tottenham
Liverpool were strongly linked with Van de Ven before he joined Tottenham in 2023. Three years on, and the 24-year-old has developed into one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
Although there appears to be no concrete move from the Reds just yet, Jacobs has painted the picture of a potential transfer saga which hangs in the balance for Spurs.
Micky van de Ven during Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Chelsea are worried Liverpool could steal in and snatch āessentialā Ā£55m centre-back from them
āWe canāt yet say that Liverpool have decided to go for Van de Ven, nor can we say thereās been any enquiry or club-to-club contact, but Van de Ven and his family have already put it out there in previous interviews that Liverpool was the club they watched growing up and that is where the affiliation is, and that is why some Liverpool fans are starting to get excited,ā the reporter told TalkSPORT.
āPrice could be an issue. Tottenham would expect British transfer record money even if heās got less than two years left on his contract. In addition to that, Van de Ven is going to wait and see how this Spurs project runs before determining whether he is or isnāt going to engage in talks surrounding an extension.
āTottenham would love him to extend and put an end to any speculation, but heās going to wait and see for things like do Tottenham get Champions League, how far will they go in the Champions League this season, whatās going to happen with Thomas Frank.ā
Who should be Liverpoolās top centre-back target after missing out on Marc Guehi?
Micky van de Ven pictured during Tottenham Hotspurs' Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (Credit: Getty Images/Sebastian Frej).
Alessandro Bastoni warms up ahead of the Serie A match between Inter Milan and Torino at San Siro Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Marco Luzzani).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Sebastian Frej/Marco Luzzani
š Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
āThereās too many variables out there and all that means is that Van de Ven is going to delay formally engaging with Tottenham over a new deal and we wait and see whether Liverpool make their move come summer.ā
How much should Liverpool pay for Van de Ven?
There is definitely some merit in Liverpool potentially making a move to sign Van de Ven. Turning 25 in April, he is a good age and could be good enough to start next to countryman Virgil van Dijk.
Quick, strong and excellent one-vs-one, you could see the former Wolfsburg star going up a level if he made the move to Anfield.
Nevertheless, there has always been a big question over injuries with Van de Ven, and the last thing Liverpool need is another centre-back who cannot stay fit.
He has done that for the first time in three seasons at Tottenham this year, but there would be a constant worry over the Netherlands international breaking down.
Given that he does have a patchy record in that respect, and also that he will tick into the last two years of his contract this summer, Liverpool should not be looking to pay anything like Ā£100m for Van de Ven. In reality, something around the Ā£70m mark even seems a little high, but if the Reds think he is the answer, then that could end up being worth it.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox