Manchester United are planning a big-money move to sign Tottenham Hotspur star Micky Van de Ven this summer, with a meeting already planned over his future, according to Caught Offside.
The Red Devils are expected to be busy in the summer window to strengthen their squad, while Spurs are likely to lose a number of stars after another horrific season, which could yet end in relegation to the Championship, as they sit two points adrift of safety with just four games remaining.
One position they are looking to strengthen is centre-back, and the Netherlands international has emerged as a target, with his situation in north London increasingly unsteady.
Man Utd Ready to Move for Van de Ven
Van de Ven, who has been described as 'world-class', is understood to be unhappy at Tottenham after another season battling at the bottom of the league, and is said to be pushing for a move away at the end of the campaign.
Man Utd are one of the clubs showing a strong interest in the 25-year-old, although Spurs are fighting to keep him, and have slapped an £80m asking price on his head as a result. However, that price could drop significantly if they are relegated, which has kept United on alert.
Speaking to Caught Offside, one source revealed that the player has already scheduled a meeting to talks to club chiefs at Spurs over his future once the season comes to an end.
“Van de Ven will meet with Tottenham at the end of the season, whether they stay up or not,” one source said. “For now his full focus is on keeping them in the Premier League, but he’ll be aware that clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United are interested, and that could put pressure on Tottenham.”
Alongside the £80m asking price, it's also reported that Van de Ven would likely demand a contract worth around £200,000-a-week at his new club.
Van De Ven Not Worth The Gamble
While Van de Ven has got some outstanding attributes, there are also some glaring flaws in his game that should make a club like Man Utd take note before splashing the cash to bring him in.
His electric pace and aerial threat are always a big help, but he often loses concentration when defending, and his mentality can also be questioned when you consider how Tottenham have performed as a whole this season.
With so much business expected to happen at Old Trafford this summer, it's highly unlikely that it would be worthwhile to them to spend a huge chunk of their budget on him when they already have the options they have, and it's a deal they should probably think twice about.