Liverpool and Barcelona are looking to take advantage of Spurs and Micky van de Ven’s contract impasse as the Reds scour the transfer market for an Ibrahima Konate replacement.
Having announced Victor Munoz as a new signing, Liverpool have two new players joining this summer, including Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, who is rated as one of the best U21 central defenders in the world alongside Giovanni Leoni.
Yet, the Reds need to sign another centre-back to replace Ibrahima Konate, who has officially joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. The Frenchman could not agree personal terms with Liverpool for a contract extension, so once his deal officially expires on 30 June, he will be a Galactico.
Real Madrid welcomed Konate on social media on Wednesday, with the 27-year-old set to join Trent Alexander-Arnold in Madrid next season.
? ¡Bienvenido, @IbrahimaKonate_! ? pic.twitter.com/Zv4jT0wxB5
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 18, 2026
Liverpool could capitalise on Tottenham’s stalling contract talks with Micky van de Ven to replace Konate
According to highly trusted Dutch football journalist Mike Verweij, who is widely considered the leading voice for football in the Netherlands, Liverpool and Barcelona are both keeping an eye on van de Ven’s situation in London.
Van de Ven is at the 2026 World Cup alongside Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch, but his agents (Team Raiola) are at work negotiating with Spurs over a new deal. His current deal is worth £112,000 per week.
Yet, with Spurs and van de Ven reaching an “impasse” in renewal talks, it could open the door for Liverpool and Barcelona to capitalise as both clubs search for their next top centre-back. The Dutchman was a part of Tottenham’s relegation battle, which saw them concede 57 goals in 38 games, although it’s only slightly worse than the 53 goals Liverpool conceded.
?? ? NIEUWS: FC Barcelona en Liverpool kloppen aan voor Oranje-international Micky van de Ven (25).
?? Europese grootmachten willen profiteren van impasse in besprekingen met Spurs.https://t.co/fD7MucFEpp
— Mike Verweij (@MikeVerweij) June 18, 2026
Is van de Ven a good fit for Liverpool?
The main issue with signing van de Ven is that he is best in a left centre-back role, which is obviously van Dijk’s position. He’s not unable to operate on the right of a central defensive pairing, as we sometimes see when they link up together for the Dutch national team.
At the 2026 World Cup, van de Ven has so far been used at left-back, which is a reflection of his pace and versatility.