Tottenham are planning to secure the long-term future of Micky van de Ven.
Tottenham Hotspur have done a fine job rebuilding Roberto De Zerbi’s squad by making six signings in the summer transfer window, and there’s more to follow.
It is not just new signings that the Hotspur Way chiefs are dealing with at the moment. They have also started renewing contracts of players who could play a key role in the club’s survival last season. The likes of Ben Davies, Antonin Kinsky and Pedro Porro have all been handed new terms. Now, Spurs are planning to do the same with another important player of Roberto De Zerbi’s squad.
Tottenham preparing to open contract talks with Micky van de Ven
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are planning to open formal discussions with the €50m Micky van de Ven over a new long-term contract. There is a growing belief within the club that the Netherlands international can now be persuaded to stay, despite earlier indications that he wanted to leave.
Following Tottenham’s survival and the manner in which the club officials have gone about reinforcing the squad, the change in mood in the camp of Micky van de Ven is notable. The 24-year-old wasn’t really interested in discussing fresh terms with the club and had been targeting a move away this summer.
Liverpool have been interested in signing the central defender for some time, while there were reports that Jose Mourinho had requested that the Real Madrid board sign the Tottenham star. Speculation surrounding Micky van de Ven’s future slowly seems to be dying down, with the Lilywhites’ transformation following De Zerbi’s arrival altering the thinking of the player. The report adds that the club have held promising discussions with the Dutchman’s representatives during the summer, prompting them to prepare formal negotiations over a fresh deal.
Next Spurs captain?
One of the more intriguing aspects of the situation is the role De Zerbi could offer Van de Ven in his squad. The Dutch star’s form improved right away under De Zerbi, whilst taking over the captaincy armband from the injured Cristian Romero. He played a key role in Spurs surviving the drop. His pace, ball-playing ability, reading of the game and leadership qualities continue to make him a player crucial to the club’s defence and long-term strategy.
With Romero likely to depart, Van de Ven appears to be among the leading contenders to take over the captaincy reins. The Italian tactician certainly sees the 24-year-old as one of the pivotal figures around which he wants to build his new-look defensive unit.
For the Wormer native himself, a new contract offer at this stage represents a clear vote of confidence from both De Zerbi and the club’s hierarchy, regardless of a season in which his form truly wavered. Van de Ven has the required qualities to become the face of the De Zerbi project, and securing his long-term future, amid Romero’s exit links, would provide much-needed reliability, continuity and leadership to the North London club’s rebuild.