This summer, the Wolfsburg defender might be on his way to north London.
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham Hotspur have held conversations with Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven, and the defender has been placed on their shortlist with Edmond Tapsoba.
Tottenham are expected to compete with Liverpool for the signature of the Wolfsburg defender, and Football Insider reports that the Reds are presently leading the race, having selected him as one of their major priorities ahead of the 2023-24 season.
According to sources, the German club would require at least €30 million (£26 million) to authorize the 22-year-old’s exit this summer; however, no bid is currently on the table, and there is a chance he may stay at Wolfsbu.
Because the Dutchman is under contract until the summer of 2027, the Bundesliga club has a strong negotiating position and is not required to accept any offers below their asking price.
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In a subsequent tweet, Romano claims the centre-back is on Tottenham’s “shortlist,” alongside Tapsoba, and that both players are “appreciated by the club.”
Although negotiations for the Dutch defender have already begun, it is unclear whether any progress has been made toward reaching an agreement.
Spurs will undoubtedly need to bring in some new defensive alternatives this summer, given their terrible defensive record last season, when they conceded 63 goals in the Premier League, the sixth-highest total of any team.
Football Scout Jacek Kulig has praised the Wolfsburg ace as a “complete & dominant” center-back, as well as his superb positioning and tough tackling; yet, there are areas of his game that need to be improved.
Despite his 6 foot 4 frame, the Wormer-born defender has averaged only 1.06 aerials won per 90 in the last year, putting him in the fourth percentile among his positional peers, while also ranking in the 13th percentile for interceptions.
Having said that, the former Volendam man showed a sharp eye for spotting his teammates last season, which is a vital ability for a modern-day centre-back, with a pass-completion percentage of 83%, the highest statistic of any Wolfsburg player who played a full 90 minutes.
Van de Ven is far from completed, but given that he will be available for just £26 million, it may be worth Tottenham taking a chance on him this summer in order to beat Premier League rivals Liverpool to a deal.
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