Tottenham want to tie the Dutchman down to a new contract and the centre-back has certainly been impressed by the new direction of the club
Micky van de Ven admits that Tottenham are showing the right ambition at the perfect time as the club look to tie him down to a new contract.
football.london understands that Spurs prioritised handing the Dutchman a bumper new deal this summer along with team-mate Pedro Porro. The Spaniard inked his contract before starring at the World Cup and helping his country lift the trophy. Tottenham want Van de Ven to commit his future next.
The 25-year-old currently has three years remaining on his existing deal but has been linked with top sides across the Premier League and Europe as he cut a frustrated figure during Tottenham's dreary relegation battle last season.
However, the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi at the helm and the club splashing out £237million on new signings this summer, with more to come, has given a timely boost to their hopes of keeping Van de Ven and others for the long term.
"It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes. They have brought a really good new manager, in my opinion, and some really good new signings. You can see the club has new ambition. It's something that's really important for players that have been there for a long time," admitted the centre-back.
Stood in front of the Sydney Opera House on Spurs' summer tour for the launch of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup, the defender reflected on the eye-catching arrivals of £100million Sandro Tonali and £85million Mateus Fernandes as well as his £52million international team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke among the six new recruits so far.
"Some really good signings for us. Unbelievable players that can bring a lot to our team," he said.
Van de Ven did not hold back in his certainty that Tottenham will be a far more enjoyable team to watch this season than the boring set piece and hit and hope side they became under Thomas Frank.
"I know that for sure. It’s going to be different compared to the former manager we had last season. It’s going to be more with the ball, more playing football,," he said. "I think it’s going to be more enjoyable for people to watch, playing offensive football."
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After last season's 17th-place finish, with Premier League safety only secured by two points on an agonising final day, the Netherlands international is insistent that the players will ensure the club and its fans do not have to suffer through another campaign like that.
"It's something we are going to work really hard on, making some differences because last season was a bit unacceptable from our side," he said.
"It's better when you go with a fresh mind into the new season. Last season was stressful so to leave everything of that behind and go into the new season fresh means a lot."
De Zerbi will be key to the new Tottenham in the months ahead and Van de Ven lavished praise on the changes the Italian has made on the pitch and behind the scenes.
"The last couple of weeks of last season, you saw he brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot mentality-wise, passion-wise, on the pitch. It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down," he explained. "We started to play a lot with the ball, because he loves us to be on the ball, he loves to play the football he wants to play, and that’s also something I really enjoy.
"Because I like being on the ball, instead of running behind the ball the whole time. He brings a lot of good energy and from pre-season, we have really got the time now to bring his football into the team. That’s really enjoyable."
Van de Ven has his goals set both personally and for Spurs in the campaign ahead.
"Spurs is a team that needs to play Europe every year, so obviously the European spots are something we are going to aim for. The most important thing is we play our football, and that we are a difficult team to play against," he said.
"Personally I just want to stay fit all season, play a lot of games and be important for the team. Let's see where it will end."