Liverpool could be about to make Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Micky van de Ven one of the most expensive defenders in footballing history, according to reports - with the reigning Premier League champions making the Dutchman their top target for the summer.
Liverpool won the Premier League title last season, though this season's trophy defence hasn't gone as planned, failing to beat all three promoted teams at home and sitting 14 points behind leaders Arsenal with just 16 games to go.
Their defence has struggled this season, being just the tenth strongest in the Premier League, being more leaky than the likes of Everton, Brighton and newly-promoted Sunderland, a key facet to their struggles. And that has seen Arne Slot earmark Van de Ven as a top target to fix the issue.
Report: Liverpool Preparing 'Huge £78m Investment' to Sign Tottenham Star Micky Van de Ven
The report by Spanish outlet Fichajes states that Liverpool are preparing a 'major investment' to strengthen their defence, with a top-level centre-back being scouted by the Reds in the form of Van de Ven.
The Dutchman, who would act as compatriot Virgl van Dijk's successor for both club and country, has impressed at Tottenham Hotspur with his athletic displays, and with nine goals in just 80 games for the north London side, he can contribute at both ends of the pitch.
The Anfield outfit are planning the future of their defence, with Van Dijk set to turn 35 by the start of next season, and the summer transfer window will be key to sorting their defence out for the coming years.
'Special' Van de Ven is thought to be their top target, and they are thought to be willing to offer up to £78million for the defender, who has established himself as one of the most reliable centre-backs in the Premier League in recent seasons.
Spurs have no intention of letting him go, and the star is under contract until 2029, though £78million would be a difficult fee to refuse for the north London outfit, despite Van de Ven being labelled as a 'modern centre-back'.
Van de Ven Would be an Ideal Long-Term Replacement for Virgil van Dijk
Van de Ven regularly ranks amongst the quickest players in the Premier League, and his physicality alongside his mental game allows him to cover large areas of the pitch - thus allowing Liverpool to play a high line.
It's something they've massively benefitted from in recent seasons. Formerly, wing-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson would fly up the pitch, squeezing clubs into defensive formations with Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate covering at the back.
Van Dijk is aging and Konate has lost his form, so a new star is needed, and Van de Ven could be central to that.