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According to sources, Tottenham Hotspur are in advanced talks to capture Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven this summer. With the arrival of Ashley Phillips, Ange Postecoglou is aiming to acquire at least one more experienced centre-back.
What is the latest on Micky van de Ven’s transfer to Tottenham?
According to 90min, negotiations with Wolfsburg for the signing of Van de Ven this summer are at an advanced level, with Spurs aiming to bring in a central defender this summer.
The Lillywhites’ top target is reportedly Edmond Tapsoba, but a deal for the Bayer Leverkusen defender could prove difficult as Spurs look to get his price-tag down to the €50m (£43.42m) mark.
If they continue to face tough negotiations with Leverkusen, the North London club may well secure the signature of Van de Ven, who reportedly has a price-tag of just €40m (£34.74m) this summer in what looks to be a far better deal than the one potentially proposed for his Bundesliga counterpart.
As per 90min, Spurs do not expect their search for a centre-back to go on for much longer, as Daniel Levy and Co are confident they can get a deal done for van de Ven once they wrap up the imminent capture of Phillips.
Should Van de Ven arrive, he would join Manor Solomon, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison and Phillips on the list of incomings so far under Postecoglou, as the former Celtic boss looks to rebuild in North London.
Should Spurs sign Micky van de Ven?
Van de Ven is a relatively risk-free signing for Spurs this summer, given his reported fee of £34.74 million. He wouldn’t break the bank, and if everything goes as planned, the Lillywhites will have the centre-back they’ve been waiting for – if not, he’s at an age where they can recoup a good chunk of money by selling him again.
The Wolfsburg man is just 22-years-old, so he has plenty of time to progress into a player ready to take the Premier League by storm. He attracted plenty of praise during his time in the Bundesliga, with Wolfsburg manager Niko Kovac saying, via the official league website: “Micky is a great boy [and] a really good footballer. What he’s showing at the moment is extraordinary.”
The club’s manager director for sport also said: “Left foot, extreme speed, plays every second. Micky [has performed] consistently very well throughout the season.
“He’s a player with huge potential and this season in particular has shown incredible development, playing himself into the spotlight with his performances.”
Statistically, the Dutchman would be a significant boost to the Spurs’ backline. According to FBref, he made more progressive passes per 90 minutes than Eric Dier and just 0.20 less than Cristian Romero last season, which will fit Postecoglou’s attack-minded style of play.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old made more blocks and tackles per 90-minute period than Dier.
Van de Ven may be better off partnering with Romero if he makes the transfer, according to the statistics. Both defenders had comparable figures last season and outperformed Dier.