Tottenham Hotspur star center back Micky van de Ven is cutting an increasingly frustrating figure, and you would be forgiven for thinking he has one foot out the door. As Spurs fight to stay alive in the Premier League, the high profile suitors for the Dutch defender are only angling even harder to sign him, including La Liga powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona.
For most players, joining either Real or Barca is the epitome of achievement in world football, and, surely, Van de Ven is not the only Spurs player angling to join these clubs. Thus far, Real Madrid have been linked more closely to the star center back just entering his prime years, but now Barcelona are increasing their interest in the player.
Per a new report from Diario Sport's top journalist L. Miguelsanz, Barcelona are now 'intensifying" their pursuit of Van de Ven, with the outlet also reporting that the 24 year old Bundesliga product is expected to leave Tottenham this summer.
Micky van de Ven is likely to leave Tottenham
So far, there has been no concrete indication that Van de Ven is for sure wanting to leave the N17 this summer, nor is there any indication that Tottenham are open to selling. But the rumor mill is spinning a narrative that neither Van de Ven nor Spurs have gone out of their way to deny, and it does feel like that this is the end for VDV, who, unlike Cristian Romero, isn't the actual captain of the club. And on that subject, his stint as a leader with Romero out has not gone well, including disrespecting the fans again in a loss to Fulham.
Tottenham have Luka Vuskovic shining at Hamburg, Kota Takai impressing at Borussia Monchengladbach, and one of the best third center backs in Europe in Kevin Danso. They might actually feel Van de Ven is more expenadble than his talent level would otherwise indicate, and they may be more willing to lose him than Romero, given the latter is their captain and the former can fetch more on the transfer market.
A bidding war between Real Madrid and Barcelona may be what Spurs front office is secretly hoping for. Whereas the fans would want to keep Van de Ven and any other top talent, Spurs have traditionally been more open to selling, and if they can get something approaching nine figures for the center back with the world's two biggest clubs bidding each other, then so be it.