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Manchester United need a player such as Micky van de Ven to elevate their starting XI, according to Peter Schmeichel, and TEAMtalk can confirm the Red Devils are among the clubs showing interest in the Dutch star.

Van De Ven built up a superb reputation at Wolfsburg before signing for Tottenham in a £43million deal in August 2023. The defender has gone on to play 81 times for Spurs, chipping in with 10 goals and three assists.

Centre-backs Van De Ven and Cristian Romero have established themselves as Spurs’ best players, and have – remarkably – become two of their biggest goal threats.

Van De Ven has become the Premier League’s fastest-ever player, while he also scored a sublime solo goal against Copenhagen earlier this season.

During an appearance on Viaplay, former United goalkeeper Schmeichel was asked about the speedy 24-year-old. He questioned why United are not signing players such as Van De Ven as they look to get back to the summit of European football.

“I think he has been a revelation,” Schmeichel said (via Danish source Tipsbladet).

“I think he is a fantastic player. He has a really, really good understanding of the game, and his speed is so valuable if you want to play offensive football.

“I sometimes think that a club like Manchester United or maybe even Liverpool should look for someone like him. Why didn’t they discover a player like him?”

Sources confirmed to us on January 22 that United and Liverpool are indeed keen on signing Van De Ven, should he become frustrated with life at Spurs.

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Micky van de Ven future yet to be decided

The north London side have opened contract talks with Van De Ven, but they will struggle to tie him down to fresh terms while they are languishing down in 14th place in the Premier League.

We understand Spurs have given the Netherlands international a £100m (€116m / $137m) price tag.

Van De Ven leaving would be a huge blow for Spurs fans. His speed has rescued the team on plenty of occasions, while both Michael Dawson and GiveMeSport have labelled the player ‘world-class’.

Van De Ven joining an English rival such as United or Liverpool would make such a transfer even worse for the Spurs faithful.

There is growing speculation fellow centre-half Romero could leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, too. He has once again called out the club’s hierarchy in a social media post.

Man Utd plot triple swoop; Spurs to hold defender talks

Meanwhile, United are planning to sign three English stars for a combined £172m, a report has claimed.

United have been heavily linked with Elliot Anderson, and he is not the only Nottingham Forest star they are pursuing.

A Bayern Munich star who will change clubs in the summer is wanted by Tottenham, but a report out of Germany claims there’s a ‘strong chance’ he joins Arsenal if they simply put an offer on the table.

Both Arsenal and Tottenham were in the market for central midfielders in January. Arsenal’s search only kicked up at the very end of the window after Mikel Merino suffered a foot injury that requires surgery to fix. Ultimately, The Gunners did not make a signing.

Spurs, meanwhile, landed Conor Gallagher in the fifth most expensive deal of the winter window.

And according to BILD chief, Christian Falk, Thomas Frank’s side also looked into and even held exploratory talks over the signing of Leon Goretzka.

The Bayern Munich midfielder, 30, is in the final six months of his contract in Bavaria and will depart at season’s end.

Atletico Madrid weighed up a bid in January, while Falk stated Tottenham ‘wanted to bring Goretzka to the north London club’ and Arsenal ‘were seriously interested’.

When all was said and done, Goretzka chose to see out the remainder of his contract in Munich. But per the report, his future may well lay in north London come the summer.

Falk strongly suggested Arsenal are the midfielder’s preferred destination when claiming there’s a ‘strong chance’ he joins Mikel Arteta’s side if they simply ‘make an offer.’

And given Goretzka has entered the final six m0onths of his deal, clubs can now forge a pre-contract agreement with the player at any time.

While Goretzka remains fully focused on ensuring his last season at Bayern is a special one, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claimed the player won’t let his future drag on in the summer.

Taking to X, Plettenberg stated Goretzka wants to have signed for his new club before the World Cup in north America gets underway.

He wrote: “Leon Goretzka wants to sign with his new club, if possible, before the World Cup.

“He is seeking clarity for planning purposes and to be able to fully focus on the World Cup, which is his major goal.”

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Latest Arsenal & Tottenham news

In other news, TEAMtalk has exclusively revealed the identity of a Championship wonderkid Arsenal are hopeful of luring to The Emirates.

Elsewhere, Tottenham captain Cristian Romero is attracting serious interest from La Liga heavyweights Barcelona and Atlético Madrid ahead of the summer transfer window, sources have told TEAMtalk, with the defender ready to quit.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero is attracting serious interest from La Liga heavyweights Barcelona and Atlético Madrid ahead of the summer transfer window, sources have told TEAMtalk, with the defender ready to quit.

We understand that Romero, who is a key figure at the heart of the Tottenham defence, is growing increasingly frustrated with the north London club’s recruitment strategy and lack of high-profile additions.

Sources close to the situation indicate that Romero, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s premier centre-backs since joining Tottenham from Atalanta, is keen on a switch to a club regularly competing in the latter stages of the Champions League.

The 27-year-old Argentina international centre-back’s desire for a fresh challenge comes amid ongoing concerns over squad depth at Tottenham, highlighted by his recent public criticism following the January transfer window.

In a pointed post on Instagram on transfer deadline day, Romero described Tottenham’s situation as “disgraceful”.

The defender noted that Tottenham manager Thomas Frank had only 11 senior players available for the Premier League game against Manchester City last weekend amid a crippling injury crisis.

The World Cup winner’s outburst underscored broader discontent, with the club making just two senior signings – former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid and young left-back Souza – while offloading Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace.

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Tottenham Hotspur stance on Cristian Romero future

Despite Romero’s frustrations, Tottenham insiders have moved to reassure the 27-year-old that a significant rebuild is planned for the summer of 2026.

Club officials are confident of major incoming signings to bolster the squad under head coach Thomas Frank, aiming to address the deficiencies that have left the team vulnerable this season.

Romero, who signed a new four-year contract in August 2025 and extended his stay until 2029, remains a prized asset.

Any potential departure would likely command a substantial fee, with previous suggested valuations in the region of £70-£80 million (up to €92.7m, $109.5m).

That would be a record fee paid for an Argentine defender, with Lisandro Martinez currently holding that status following his £57million (€66m, $78m) move to Manchester United from Ajax in the summer of 2022.

Barcelona’s high defensive line under Hansi Flick could suit Romero’s aggressive style, while Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, a fellow Argentine, has long admired the defender’s tenacity and leadership.

For now, Spurs are holding firm, emphasising their ambition to retain their skipper as part of a renewed push for success.

Whether Romero stays to lead that charge or seeks new pastures in Spain remains one of the key storylines heading into the summer market.

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Latest Tottenham transfer news: Vuskovic talks, Akliouche decision

Romero’s exit from Tottenham in the summer of 2026 could open the door for Luka Vuskovic to break into the first team.

Vuskovic is on loan at Hamburg at the moment, with Bayern Munich monitoring the young centre-back.

Our transfer insider, Dean Jones, though, has reported that Tottenham are planning to hold talks with Vuskovic over a pathway into the first team.

We can also reveal why Tottenham did not sign Maghnes Akliouche from AS Monaco on the final day of the winter transfer window.

Liverpool are considering handing Andy Robertson a new contract to keep him at Anfield beyond the end of the season, sources have told TEAMtalk, but it is not over for Tottenham Hotspur or Celtic to get a deal done for the Scottish left-back.

Robertson has been on the books of Liverpool since the summer of 2017 but is out of contract at the defending Premier League champions at the end of the season. The Scotland captain has been a huge figure for the Reds over the last nine years, winning the Premier League title twice, the FA Cup once, the EFL Cup on two occasions and the Champions League in 2019.

The 31-year-old has made a total of 365 appearances for Liverpool in his career so far, scoring 12 goals and registering a hugely-impressive 68 assists in the process.

Robertson was close to joining Tottenham Hotspur from Liverpool in the winter transfer window.

Sources told us that Liverpool were willing to sell Robertson to Tottenham for £5million (€5.7m, $7m), with the left-back himself ready to swap Anfield for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the middle of the season.

However, following Joe Gomez’s injury against Bournemouth, Liverpool pulled the plug on the deal, with club captain Virgil van Dijk also speaking out against selling Robertson.

Liverpool’s decision on Robertson was also influenced by AS Roma failing to land a potential replacement for Kostas Tsimikas, who was supposed to return to Anfield in the middle of the season-long loan deal to replace the Scotsman in Arne Slot’s squad.

We can now reveal that Liverpool are considering handing Robertson a short-term extension to his current deal.

Sources have told us that Liverpool could table a one or two-year deal to keep Robertson at Anfield, valuing his leadership and experience amid a transitional period under manager Slot.

Despite recent injury concerns and the arrival of younger talents like Milos Kerkez, Liverpool view him as integral to maintaining defensive stability.

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Tottenham and Celtic keen on Andy Robertson – sources

Liverpool changing their stance on Robertson comes against a backdrop of burgeoning interest from across Europe and the Premier League.

Tottenham remain keen admirers of Robertson, despite failing to land the former Hull City star in the winter transfer window.

We understand that Spurs view the Scot as a perfect fit for their club and would love the experience that he would bring to their left flank.

Other Premier League sides, including Newcastle United and Aston Villa, are also monitoring the situation, drawn to Robertson’s proven pedigree and ability to deliver pinpoint crosses.

Adding an emotional layer is Celtic’s persistent interest in Robertson.

As a boyhood fan of the Glasgow giants, Robertson has often spoken fondly of his roots, having started his career at Queen’s Park following a brief stint at Celtic’s youth setup.

A return to Parkhead could allow Robertson to end his illustrious career in familiar surroundings, with Celtic to bring back a local hero to challenge for domestic honours and in Europe.

Sources have stated that Celtic would be able to offer good wages to Roberson.

Robertson’s decision on his future will hinge on three factors – playing time, family considerations, and the allure of new challenges.

With Robertson’s contract at Liverpool expiring in June 2026, the coming months will be interesting for one of football’s most enduring left-backs.

Latest Liverpool transfer news: Aston Villa links, Sunderland raid

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been linked with an Aston Villa gem, who is said to have drawn attention from Chelsea as well.

Liverpool are reportedly planning to raid Sunderland in the summer of 2026 for a goalkeeper.

Tottenham are set to hold updated talks with Luka Vuskovic over his first-team pathway, sources have told TEAMtalk, as Bayern Munich take a close look at the defender.

Vuskovic has been a revelation at Hamburg, where he has been on loan since the start of the season. The 18-year-old Croatia international centre-back has made 17 starts in the Bundesliga and two starts in the DFB-Pokal for Hamburg in the 2025/26 campaign, scoring four goals in the process.

Tottenham agreed to the loan at the player’s request, with Vuskovic keen to play regular first-team football rather than remain on the fringes in north London while waiting for an opportunity.

The teenager’s performances have been so impressive that Bayern Munich are now monitoring him closely, and reports in Germany suggest the teenager would be open to playing in the Bundesliga again next season.

My colleague, Graeme Bailey, reported on December 12, 2025, that Bayern had enquired about Vuskovic, but Tottenham rebuffed their advances.

However, we understand that the defending Bundesliga champions are still keeping a close eye on the former Hajduk Split defender.

It presents a dilemma for Spurs, who committed to signing the teenager in 2023.

The Croatian has now experienced consistent first-team football and shown he can handle the demands, meaning he will be pushing for more of the same next season at Tottenham.

Spurs remain confident in his long-term potential and believe he can become an important part of their future, but at just 18 years old, they cannot offer guarantees over immediate game time.

Conversations are expected to take place ahead of next summer regarding his next steps, with indications that Vuskovic could request to remain in Germany.

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Latest Tottenham transfer news: Cristian Romero exit, former Chelsea winger enquiry

A potential pathway for Vuskovic into the Tottenham first team could emerge if Cristian Romero leaves.

Romero slammed Tottenham’s owners and board for not addressing the injury problems in the squad, suggesting that they should have made more signings than they did during the winter transfer window.

A top Argentine reporter has claimed that Romero wants to leave Tottenham in the summer of 2026.

There have been reports in the Spanish media that Real Madrid are keen on a deal for Romero.

Meanwhile, we can reveal why Tottenham did not sign Maghnes Akliouche from AS Monaco on the final day of the winter transfer window, despite the 23-year-old being willing to make the move to last season’s Europa League winners.

A trusted Argentine source claims that Cristian Romero will leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, just a day after the winter window shut and the Spurs skipper appeared to launch a scathing attack on the lack of squad depth and the medical department in north London.

Tottenham finished the January window with just Conor Gallagher and teenagers Souza and James Wilson added to a squad that is completely decimated by injuries and in serious danger of being dragged into the relegation dogfight.

Romero himself was forced off with illness at half-time of the 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, and while he was quick to praise his teammates after their second-half comeback, he also aimed a dig at the club in the process.

Writing on Instagram, Romero said: “I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available — unbelievable but true and disgraceful.”

It’s not the first time that the Argentine has criticised the club publicly, and his latest comments come as no great surprise at the same time as Real Madrid are once again being linked with making a move to bring him to LaLiga.

And now trusted Argentine reporter Gaston Edul of TyC Sports has doubled down on talk of Romero heading to Spain, with the 27-year-old having also come close to leaving for Atletico Madrid in 2025 before he eventually penned a new deal in north London.

Edul claims that Romero ‘will leave’ the club at the end of the season, while there was also reported interest late in the January window too.

Should the reports be accurate, and there’s nothing to suggest they are not, given that Edul reported on Atletico’s strong interest in Romero last summer, Spurs will demand a hefty sum for their skipper.

Recent reports suggested that Romero could leave for a fee in the region of €70million (£60.6m, $83m), but that seems on the low end for a player who still has four years left on his contract and is arguably at the peak of his powers.

For now, though, Romero needs to lead the club away from the threat of relegation and also into a Champions League last-16 tie next month in what will be a pivotal end to the campaign for the club and under-pressure boss Thomas Frank.

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More Tottenham news: Akliouche signing hope; winger enquiries

Tottenham chose not to buckle on Monaco’s valuation of Maghnes Akliouche and could look to strike a better deal for him in the summer, but may ultimately regret that decision.

Elsewhere, Spurs made discreet enquiries over former Chelsea winger Angelo Gabriel during the final days of the winter transfer window, TEAMtalk understands.

Tottenham Hotspur skipper Cristian Romero has been accused of becoming a ‘bad influence’ at the club after his latest rant following the 2-2 draw with Manchester City last weekend.

The Argentine, who was forced off at half-time with an illness with Spurs trailing 2-0, appeared to launch a scathing attack on the club’s transfer business as well as their medical department after the game.

Tottenham were missing 11 senior players for the contest, with Romero commenting on Instagram afterwards: “Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible.

“I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available — unbelievable but true and disgraceful.

“We’ll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together.

“All that’s left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans.”

In relation to Romero’s complaint about a lack of available players, the north London outfit had been expected to be busy in the winter window, after an injection of cash from majority owners ENIC, only to sign Conor Gallagher and two teenagers instead.

And former Spurs scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Romero, who continues to be heavily linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid, taking pot shots at the club is not good for morale behind the scenes.

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Romero becoming a ‘bad influence’ at Tottenham

A run of just two wins in their last 15 Premier League games has led to a toxic atmosphere among fans, despite the success of the Champions League campaign.

And Brown feels that Romero coming out in public is some form of diversion tactic to take away from the fact that the players are underperforming for an increasingly under-pressure Thomas Frank.

He told FI: “Romero coming out with digs at the club isn’t ideal for anybody.

“If he’s complaining about a lack of recruitment and this sort of thing, I don’t think that stands up.

“When a club is going through a rocky patch, the last thing they need is the captain coming out saying negative things about them, because it’s causing issues.

“It gives some of the weaker characters in the squad an excuse to take digs, and it’s a bad influence on some of the younger and more inexperienced players too.

“Players like Romero need to put their hands up and take a bit of responsibility for this season.

“They’ve got a lot of major injuries there, it’s a problem and something they have to deal with, but it happens sometimes in football.

“For Romero immediately to come out looking to blame somebody, whether it’s the recruitment staff or the medical staff, it’s not on. They’re defenceless. I don’t like that.”

Tottenham are back in action on Saturday when they head to in-form Manchester United looking to build on their second-half display against City.

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More Tottenham news: Akliouche chase; winger enquiries

Tottenham chose not to buckle on Monaco’s valuation of Maghnes Akliouche and could look to strike a better deal for him in the summer, but may ultimately regret that decision.

Tottenham chose not to buckle on Monaco’s valuation of Maghnes Akliouche and could look to strike a better deal for him in the summer, but may ultimately regret that decision.

A potential move for the 23-year-old had been weeks, if not months, in the making, with Spurs conducting extensive scouting missions and exploring both personal terms and the financial framework required to strike an agreement with Monaco.

As reported, it is understood the deal would have cost over £50million, with Akliouche prepared to accept terms that fit within Tottenham’s existing wage structure.

However, Spurs have opted to hold back for now and are instead expected to revisit the transfer in the summer window, when he will enter the final two years of his current contract.

Tottenham had closely monitored Akliouche’s situation last summer and again this season, with Monaco surprised by the lack of pressure from the north London club to force the issue.

There had been expectations that Spurs would make a bold statement in the latest transfer window, but that failed to materialise.

Spurs brought in midfielder Conor Gallagher and left-back Souza for around £50million combined, but they also wanted to add a fresh spark to their attack, and settled on Akliouche as a top target.

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Tottenham take risk by delaying much-needed transfer

The decision to delay a move for Akliouche could prove risky, with Tottenham now facing the prospect of rival clubs stepping up their interest in him ahead of the summer.

The five-time capped French international has notched four goals and five assists in 28 appearances for Monaco this season, and is only expected to improve.

Akliouche can play as a right-winger or attacking midfielder, so could provide depth in two key positions for Tottenham.

However, for now, Thomas Frank will have to make do with the options he has as the manager looks to bounce back from a dismal first half of the season.

Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League table – far below the expectations of the club’s hierarchy and supporters.

Their 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday, having come back from 2-0 down, does offer some hope that Frank can turn things around.

Frank remains the favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked, however, so a change in that department can’t be ruled out.

But the club’s admiration for Akliouche is unlikely to go away even if there is a managerial change before the summer.

Latest Tottenham news: ‘Discreet enquiry’ for ex-Chelsea star / Romero FUMES

Meanwhile, my colleague, Graeme Bailey, has revealed that Tottenham launched a ‘discreet enquiry’ for former Chelsea winger Angelo Gabriel in the final days of the window.

However, while Thomas Frank’s Tottenham gathered information on his availability and potential cost, no bid was ever submitted for Angelo, and the discussions did not advance.

In other news, Spurs centre-back Cristian Romero appeared to launch an attack at the club’s hierarchy, suggesting that there failure to sign more players this winter is ‘”disgraceful”, following their draw with Man City.

“I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available — unbelievable but true and disgraceful,” Romero posted on Instagram. Read his full comments HERE.

Tottenham Hotspur made discreet enquiries over former Chelsea winger Angelo Gabriel during the final days of the winter transfer window, TEAMtalk understands.

Angelo has been catching the eye in Saudi Arabia after joining Al‑Nassr from Chelsea in 2024. The Brazilian winger now lines up alongside former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo at Al‑Nassr, and his sharp rise in form has put him back on the radar of several European clubs.

Sources have told us that Tottenham are among the clubs to have checked in on Angelo’s situation, but the interest never progressed to a formal offer.

Chelsea signed Angelo from Santos in the summer of 2023 and then sent him out on loan to their sister club Strasbourg for the 2023/24 campaign.

Despite the early excitement around his potential, Angelo, 21, never made a senior appearance for Chelsea and moved on to Al‑Nassr in the summer of 2024 for £19.1million (€22.1m, $26.1m).

Sources in Saudi Arabia have indicated that Tottenham made enquiries about the Brazilian as they assessed winger options before Monday’s deadline.

However, while Thomas Frank’s Tottenham gathered information on his availability and potential cost, no bid was ever submitted for Angelo, and the discussions did not advance.

Angelo’s progress in Riyadh continues to be monitored, and with Premier League clubs increasingly scouting the Saudi Pro League, his name is expected to resurface in future windows.

Angelo has made 65 appearances for Al-Nassr so far in his career, scoring six goals and providing 16 assists in the process.

During his time at Santos, the young winger scored five goals and gave 10 assists in 129 matches in all competitions for the Brazilian club.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has hit out at the lack of available first-team players at the north London club, which will further fuel rumours linking him with Real Madrid.

The winter transfer window is now officially closed, and Romero will not leave Tottenham, but the Argentina international central defender’s latest post on Instagram seemingly aimed at the club’s owners and board will raise doubts on his long-term future.

Romero played through illness for the first half of Tottenham’s Premier League game against Manchester City at the weekend.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank had to take Romero off at halftime, as the Premier League game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday ended in a 2-2 draw.

Spurs have been decimated by injuries and made just two major signings in the winter window – midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid and left-back Souza from Santos.

However, Tottenham also sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace, sent Kota Takai out on loan to Borussia Monchengladbach and recalled Manor Solomon from his loan spell at Villarreal and then sent him off to Fiorentina, among the major outgoings.

Romero wrote on Instagram: “Great effort from all my teammates yesterday , they were incredible.

“I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available — unbelievable but true and disgraceful.

“We’ll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together.

“All that’s left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans.”

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Cristian Romero outburst plays into Real Madrid hands

Romero signed a new contract with Tottenham only in August 2025 and is now the highest-paid player at the north London club.

That the 27-year-old is supposedly not happy with Tottenham not having enough first-team players and not making enough investment will open the door for Real Madrid to make a swoop.

There have been rumours in the Spanish media over the past few weeks that Madrid are planning to bid for Romero.

Fichajes and Defensa Central have been reporting Madrid’s desire to secure the services of the Argentina international centre-back, as Los Blancos aim to sign at least one new centre-back in the summer of 2026.

Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are out of contract at Madrid at the end of the season, while Dean Huijsen is still only 20.

Romero is one of the best centre-backs in the world, and the World Cup winner with Argentina would be able to make an immediate impact at Madrid.