Liverpool will be in the market for new defenders next season and Danny Murphy thinks he knows just the man
Liverpool should go after Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven this summer, in a bid to bolster their leaky defence, according to former Reds star Danny Murphy.
Arne Slot's side remains on course to qualify for next season's Champions League despite suffering a miserable 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Reds have conceded 47 Premier League goals this term and will wave goodbye to stalwart left-back Andy Robertson later this month. Ibrahima Konate is still yet to sign a new contract, leaving Liverpool in need of defensive reinforcements and ex-Reds midfielder Murphy believes that the versatility of Dutchman Van de Ven would be ideal for his old club.
Speaking to Aceodds.com, Murphy said: “I think he (Van de Ven) ticks the boxes. I think obviously he's a wonderful athlete, good footballer. Adaptable as well, he can play left-back, left wing-back, he's played different positions for his national team. He's big, he's got presence, he's got Premier League experience.
“I think the rare moments of, call it bad attitude or ill-discipline, if you like, that have come are probably linked to the horrendous, chaotic situation Spurs are in. Very rarely do we see him lose his head. He's generally been pretty well-behaved and conducted himself pretty well."
Van de Ven is highly thought of at Spurs and was part of the team that lifted the Europa League trophy after defeating Manchester United in the final 12 months ago, but the north London club have suffered a torrid season and are currently scrapping to escape relegation from the Premier League.
They are currently a point above the drop zone with three games left to play. However, their poor season could lead to established stars looking elsewhere this summer and the 25-year-old is expected be a target for big clubs both home and abroad.
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Van de Ven has made 31 Premier League appearances for Tottenham this season, but hasn't been without his issues, as Murphy acknowledges.
“My only slight concern with van de Ven is his injury record," he added. "I don't think he's played a full season yet and what you want at the back is durable players who can build relationships.
"But in terms of his ability, he'll be on the radar. There's a lot of good centre-halves out there. I think especially with his pace and physicality, I think if you're going to play front-foot football and go at teams, you need centre-halves who are quick and can recover and he's one of the best, in terms of his recovery, out there.”