Image Credits: Imago Images
Earlier this year, reports from the Daily Mail claimed that Liverpool are interested in Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven.
Liverpool’s interest in the Dutchman is nothing new – it is more a story of unfinished business than a fresh transfer whim. The Dutch defender first came onto the Reds’ radar during his breakthrough at Wolfsburg, when then Reds sporting director Jörg Schmadtke reportedly flagged him to the recruitment team at Anfield.
At the time, Liverpool ultimately chose to prioritise other areas, while Tottenham stole in with a deal worth up to around £43m and a long‑term contract that ran to 2029.
That might have been the end of the story, but Van de Ven has continued to circle Liverpool’s orbit. Reports this year have described him as a “long‑term target” who is firmly back on the club’s list as they step up plans to refresh the centre‑back department.
Meanwhile, former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed on the Overlap last week that Liverpool “were in” for the 24-year-old in Klopp’s last summer at the club.
Contract talks with Tottenham are said to be complicated, with suggestions of a stand‑off over a new deal despite his current terms running to 2029 and Spurs valuing him at close to £100m. However, it seems that the North London club are going to do their most to keep their star defender.
The Guardian has reported that Spurs are looking to “rip up their wage structure” in an attempt to keep top players at the club as well as attracting other top talents.
They have the lowest wage bill out of the so-called “top six” sides in the Premier League, and the owners are planning on changing that fact.
Internally, it is recognised that “greater investment in salaries is needed because finishing positions in the league correlate more closely to wages than to transfer spending.”
One would imagine Micky van de Ven would be right at the front of that queue. For a club desperate to send a message of ambition, tying down one of their most valuable assets on improved terms would be a statement move, and it would also represent the clearest attempt yet to fend off Liverpool’s long‑standing interest in the Dutch defender.
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