Micky van de Ven will be able to breathe a sigh of relief after recent Tottenham transfer news.
Van de Ven was a staple in Spurs’ defence last season despite several injuries, which kept him sidelined for months at a time.
His raw pace, acceleration and defensive prowess have seen him form a formidable centre-back duo with Cristian Romero. However, Spurs supporters have been robbed of seeing this duo a little more than they would’ve liked in recent months.
Despite this, a new season, manager, and expectations are expected to bring about change in North London.
This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.
MORE SPURS STORIES
Joao Palhinha set to make an important defensive impact
Tottenham have signed Joao Palhinha on a season-long loan after the midfielder struggled to establish himself as a starter at Bayern Munich.
His arrival has seen mixed reactions from Tottenham fans. Some are enthusiastic about adding a Premier League-proven player to their ranks, while others cannot look past his age.
However, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that the 30-year-old will offer a lot of relief to Spurs’ defence next season.
“Palhinha is exactly what the doctor ordered,” Wenham said.
“You’ve now got someone at six feet two sitting in front of your two centre-backs.
“The way we’re playing it looks like we’re not going to be relying so much on van de Ven’s pace to get us out of trouble. It’s going to be there when we need it, but we’re not going to be relying on it left, right and centre.”
Palhinha’s signing will cast Yves Bissouma out
While van de Ven will likely be enthused at a little more defensive support, Yves Bissouma may not be as impressed.
The Mali international has been linked with a departure this summer, but is seemingly hoping to continue his career in the Premier League. While remaining at Tottenham appears to be his first point of call, the midfielder could sign with another club in the first division.
It seems like the latter will be the likely option for Bissouma now that Palhinha has arrived at Hotspur Way. After a string of inconsistent performances since he was signed from Brighton, Palhinha looks likely to start ahead of him for Spurs.
As a result, it is looking increasingly likely that these final pre-season games could be Bissouma’s last in a Spurs shirt.