Real Madrid have been linked with transfer interest in a Tottenham Hotspur player who Jamie O'Hara believes could be the next Gareth Bale.
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Former Tottenham Hotspur star Jamie O’Hara has told the club to slap a £100 million price tag on star man Micky Van de Ven following his heroic exploits in midweek.
The 24-year-old scored an unforgettable solo goal in the 4-0 win over FC Copehagen on Tuesday night. The centre-back ran the length of the pitch and through the opponents before firing in.
That goal came just over a week after Van de Ven bagged a brace against Everton in the 3-0 Premier League victory. The player, who was signed from VfL Wolfsburg in 2023 for €50 million has earned a reputation for his pace and ability with the ball at his feet.
Micky Van de Ven impresses for Tottenham Hotspur
Speaking on Sky Sports on Wednesday, O’Hara heaped praise on Van de Ven and admitted he could be ‘wasted’ in a traditional centre-back role. He said: “I genuinely think, he could be Gareth Bale. I’ve played with Bale when he was a left back and you could see his athleticism, you saw he had pace, but what he became... he became a right winger in the end, and a number 10.
“Micky Van de Ven, I think, is almost wasted as a centre half when you have that type of pace and skill and drive, he can finish. I genuinely believe that in the future you might look at him and say, could you play him somewhere else? Could he be a 6 ft 4 left winger who’s good on the ball, gets to the byline and gets crosses in? No one can keep up with him.”
TEAMtalk have today carried new reports of Real Madrid transfer interest in the player. The Galacticos are said to hold ‘genuine interest’ in the Spurs star with the Netherlands international viewed as a potential long-term successor at the Bernabeu,
Real Madrid linked with swoop for Spurs star
Tottenham Hotspur are not wanting to sell and hold negotiating power with Van de Ven contracted until 2029. O’Hara, who said he would not blame Van de Ven for wanting the move, advised Spurs to demand at least £100 million for his services.
He said: “What Bale went on to become, I never saw. Harry Redknapp got more out of him, then Villa-Boas got more out of him, he was playing as a number 10, cutting in off the right, whipping balls in the top corner. Van de Ven is so good and can be so effective in a wider area or higher up the pitch with his pace and technique. He’s good in the air. I look at him and think, are looking at someone who could move away from centre half and become a marauding left back or even a winger, I think he’s got the ability potentially to become that player.
“I’d love to keep hold of Van de Ven and we should do everything we can, pay him whatever he wants. If we’re going to spend money on players, you’ve got to pay him £200k a week. He’s worth it because he’s someone that will end up at Real Madrid. I won’t boo him as I believe that any player that wants to better themselves or have a new challenge, get something in life you never thought you’d be able to achieve. Go for it.
“For me, Van de Ven is a £100 million centre half. That’s how good he is. If Real Madrid do come knocking, Tottenham have got to go all out and say - if you want him you have to pay big bucks for him. I think they will want him, he’s that good. Tottenham have to do everything in their power to sign him up to a new long term contract and make him the face of Tottenham’s future, because he is unbelievable.”
In other news, 'Deeply disappointed' - Copenhagen boss rips into team after Tottenham thrashing.