Tottenham's best piece of business this summer may not involve a new signing. Spurs are in for a busy off-season, with Roberto De Zerbi intent on overhauling a squad that has finished in the bottom half for two successive campaigns.
The Spurs board has vowed to a third season in the doldrums, and they know it's going to take significant investment to turn things around. There has been investment during that two-year run, with Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons among the pricey signings, but the results only further highlight the need to improve recruitment as well as investment levels.
Part of that recruitment strategy must include keeping hold of the club's best players, and there is some good news for Spurs fans on that front.
Spurs aware of double departure danger
Tottenham are bracing themselves to lose Cristian Romero this summer, with the Argentine almost certain to leave North London. Romero has repeatedly called out the club over how things are being run, and while he has continued to be an exemplary leader on the pitch, it's clear he is ready to move on.
With Marcos Senesi and another likely signing at centre-back, Spurs are prepared for Romero to leave, even though it is unlikely to happen until his World Cup campaign comes to an end.
But what Tottenham cannot afford is to lose their other starting centre-back in Micky van de Ven. The Dutchman has been one of the club's best players for some time, and while he has had some troubling muscular injury issues, there is no doubting that he is a player to build a defence around.
Former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou highlighted Van de Ven's star quality, once saying: "He’s top. He could be as good as he wants to. You watch him at the World Cup, I reckon they’ll play him at left back and he’ll be unbelievable. Once he gets going, technically he’s good, his ability to cover ground is phenomenal. You’d set him up against any striker in the world, without any fear that he will get outmuscled and definitely not outrun."
Spurs move to hand out new deal to van de Ven
Well aware of the danger of losing Van de Ven, who has been linked with clubs like Real Madrid in the past, Spurs are now said to be plotting a new contract for Van de Ven to keep him locked down.
Ben Jacobs reported on the Market Madness podcast: "Jan Paul van Hecke is a key priority, and that's a clue in many ways that Cristian Romero is still expected to depart. Micky van de Ven, I think there's a strong chance he'll stay at Tottenham and sign a new deal, despite interest, because he's really enjoying life under Roberto De Zerbi, and obviously Tottenham don't want to lose both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero in the same window."
That will be music to the ears of Tottenham fans, who will see Van de Ven as a player they simply cannot afford to lose. The Dutchman is under contract until 2029 already, but Spurs will likely look to add a year or two to that in exchange for a nice pay top-up.