Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has played down speculation linking Micky van de Ven with a move to Liverpool, insisting the Dutch defender remains a key part of Spurs’ present and future plans.
When fit, the Dutch centre-back is solid, but due his pace, his career has been plagued by hamstring problems. Still, he’s subject to interest from Arne Slot’s Liverpool after the Reds missed out on Marc Guehi.
Guehi had been close to joining Liverpool last summer before Crystal Palace pulled the plug on the deal at the eleventh hour. Manchester City eventually swooped in to secure the England international for a reported €25m, with the defender in the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park.
Van de Ven’s name has long been associated with interest at Liverpool. The 24-year-old was linked with a move to Anfield even before Jürgen Klopp’s final season in charge, and the defender has previously spoken openly about his admiration for the Merseyside giants.
Speaking to Voetbal International in June 2023, shortly before completing his €40m switch to Spurs, the former VfL Wolfsburg centre-back acknowledged Liverpool’s past interest.
“It’s true that the director went there and I know that Liverpool followed me before,” he said. “But at the moment, I don’t know anything. Do I think Liverpool is a nice club? Naturally.”
With Tottenham currently languishing in 14th place on the Premier League table and facing the real prospect of missing out on European football, questions have been raised about Van de Ven’s long-term future in North London.
Van de Ven’s current contract at Tottenham runs until the summer of 2029, but a move could happen after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the Daily Mail, the Reds could test Spurs’ resolve with a significant offer once the season ends.
Spurs boss Thomas Frank has been under fire recently due to his side’s poor results, and could get booted out anytime soon. However, the Danish tactician has clarified that there’s little chance of a contract extension for the Dutch defender due to Liverpool’s interest.
“That I don’t know, if I’m honest, but he’s definitely a player we should prioritise.
“Micky is a key player for this team and this club, and hopefully for many years to come. He has what it takes to be an even better player, and I’ve no doubt he can help us to get to where we want to be in the future.
“I would say he’s very important for us, so Micky is a Tottenham player now and for the future,” the former Brentford coach added, playing down Liverpool’s interest.
Things could change very quickly in the summer. Van Dijk is entering the latter stages of his career, and the prospect of playing at Anfield clearly appeals to Van de Ven.
