Micky van de Ven has become increasingly frustrated in a Tottenham shirt.
After Tottenham lost 3-2 to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday, Van de Ven went over to confront the away fans in what were unsavoury scenes.
Antoine Semenyo’s 95th-minute winner condemned Spurs to their eighth league defeat of the season, and an eight-point gap has emerged between themselves and the top four.
Thomas Frank is under intense scrutiny as Tottenham sit 14th in the table, and the relationship between the fans and the team is completely fractured.
Van de Ven is Tottenham’s most valuable asset, but reports have emerged that he is not prepared to sign a new contract with the club due to the worrying run of form.
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Micky van de Ven not prepared to sign new Tottenham contract
Despite the poor performances under Frank, Van de Ven has been Tottenham’s best player this season.
The Telegraph‘s Matt Law reported that Tottenham have been keen to offer Van de Ven a new contract, with his current deal lasting until 2029.
But some sources believe the defender is frustrated with the current situation at the club, and that he needs to see some ambition from the board before he thinks about signing a new contract.
The 24-year-old has scored six goals in all competitions under Frank, and wore the captain’s armband in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on 28 December.
He is one of the leaders in the dressing room, but after ignoring a handshake from Frank in the 1-0 loss to Chelsea on 1 November, the confrontation with supporters on Wednesday isn’t promising for his long-term future.
The Danish manager has to galvanise his team instantly, and more poor results will not only lead to his sacking but it would condemn Tottenham to another season of bitter disappointment.
If Van de Ven refuses to sign a new deal, Spurs would demand a substantial fee for any club that wishes to sign him, and the power ultimately lies with them.
Van de Ven’s comments about Tottenham’s ambitions aren’t realistic under Thomas Frank
Spurs winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou qualified them for this season’s Champions League, despite finishing 17th in the top flight.
However, it looks incredibly unlikely that they’ll retain their place in Europe’s elite competition in 2026-27, and it could lead to the departure of Van de Ven and several other players.
Speaking on The Overlap podcast on 16 December, the Dutch defender outlined Spurs’ ambitions for the season.
He said: “Our aim for this season is to make sure that we’re playing Champions League football again. Top four or five is what we want.”
However, it now seems likely that he’ll push to leave Tottenham at the end of the season, as they are beginning to embrace mediocrity under Frank.