Micky van de Ven is a major Premier League defender and is being tracked by big English and European clubs. But with Spurs struggling on the pitch, will the Dutchman continue his career at Tottenham?
Having joined the English club in 2023 for £33.9m (€40m), the 24-year-old centre-back saw his value rise by £16.9m (€20m) after a sensational goal this season against Copenhagen (4-0) in the Champions League. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Micky van de Ven had run the length of the pitch before finishing with a powerful strike, which surely pleased his many suitors.
But also Tottenham's sporting directorate, who were hoping to recoup a larger sum in the event of a sale – £67.8m (€80m)? However, since then, the English club have primarily entered into discussions over a contract extension.
Micky van de Ven questioning his Tottenham future
According to Team Talk, negotiations between Tottenham and Micky van de Ven are “suspended” until summer 2026. The British club initially wanted to reward the Dutchman for his excellent form with a salary increase that would have placed him among the top earners in the dressing room, alongside Cristian Romero – £11.5m per year according to Capology.
However, while Spurs do want to extend the defender's contract, they wish above all to focus on footballing matters, with the club 16th in the Premier League and threatened by relegation.
Furthermore, and most importantly, Micky van de Ven is no longer entirely sure he wants to tie his future to Tottenham long-term. Already under contract until June 2029, the 17-cap international is concerned about the team's sporting situation and would not say no to the possibility of joining a more competitive club in the summer 2026 transfer window. Currently, Micky van de Ven is “evaluating his options.”
Real Madrid, Barca or Liverpool: Who leads the race for Van de Ven?
According to Team Talk, Real Madrid are “closely monitoring” the situation of a “priority target.” The Spanish club will lose Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba next summer and will look to sign at least one centre-back during the window to partner Dean Huijsen or Eder Militao. Los Blancos are not alone in this race, as Barcelona are also thinking about Micky van de Ven, as are Liverpool.
While the Catalan club appear to be outpaced financially, a battle should ensue with the Reds, who are capable of spending large sums in the transfer market. However, competition at Liverpool is higher than at Real Madrid in that position, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.
Should they fail in the Micky van de Ven case, Real Madrid or Liverpool could move for Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), who is no longer of interest to… Barcelona. This summer, the centre-back market promises to be busy and closely interlinked among European heavyweights.
