Micky van de Ven’s situation at Tottenham has seen a new development as Liverpool links continue to bubble away in the background.
The Dutch defender has been mentioned as a possible target for some time, largely because of his pace, profile and obvious quality, but the circumstances around a move now look very different.
Spurs are staring relegation in the face, and a fresh report claims Van de Ven is expected to leave this summer whether they go down or not. More interesting still is the suggestion that, if Tottenham do drop into the Championship, a loan move could come into play.
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Micky van de Ven gearing up to leave Spurs one way or another
According to FourFourTwo, Van de Ven is already ‘tidying up’ his off-field affairs in London, which is a strong sign that he expects his future to lie elsewhere beyond this summer.
The report says that is the case regardless of whether Spurs survive or are relegated. The club’s wider issues have taken him to the limits of his patience, stuck in a grim relegation fight that could realistically see them drop into the second tier.
Van de Ven has attracted interest from Liverpool, as well as other major clubs, and it is easy enough to see why. Even in a dreadful Spurs side, you can see his strengths as a defender and ball progressor.
The report adds that Spurs would be expected to demand a major fee if they stay in the Premier League, especially with Van de Ven under contract until 2029. But if they are relegated, that changes things. His value could ‘plummet’, and a ‘try-before-you-buy’ loan is described as a genuine possibility.
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It is not exactly encouraging that Van de Ven is at the heart of one of the worst Spurs sides in modern history. Additionally, Liverpool are already fairly well stocked at centre-back. Ibrahima Konate looks set to stay at Liverpool and the young prospects behind him are exciting.
That makes a permanent deal harder to justify. A loan, though, gives the whole thing a very different complexion.