Liverpool turn the screw on Spurs over Van de Ven as Barca circle
Liverpool have eased a shoulder into the transfer market scrum for Micky van de Ven, sounding out Tottenham over a move for the rapid Dutch centre-half while Barcelona keep a watching brief. Respected Dutch reporter Mike Verweij says both European heavyweights have made their interest known with talks over a new deal at Spurs stuck in traffic. Make no mistake: prising him away from north London would be a major statement.
The transfer race: Reds move beyond the wings
The buzz on Merseyside has been about wide men, and rightly so after a £34m swoop for Osasuna’s Victor Munoz was wrapped up on Thursday — the first signing of Andoni Iraola’s tenure after taking the reins from Arne Slot earlier this month. Liverpool also had a €100m bid knocked back by RB Leipzig for an explosive Ivory Coast teenager billed as the preferred Mohamed Salah successor, with Fabrizio Romano indicating the Germans won’t blink for less than €120m.
Why Van de Ven fits Iraola’s plan
Iraola’s high-octane blueprint demands pace at the back and composure on the ball; Van de Ven ticks both boxes. The 25-year-old is left-sided, lightning across the turf, and comfortable stepping into midfield — ideal for squeezing the pitch and recovering when the press is breached. The bonus? He already speaks the same language as Virgil van Dijk; the pair lined up together for the Netherlands, including in that World Cup qualifier against Japan, and the chemistry showed.
Context at Anfield: gaps to fill
Liverpool conceded more league goals last term than they’d care to remember. With Ibrahima Konate off to Real Madrid, it leaves Van Dijk and Joe Gomez as the senior centre-backs, while newcomers Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are still waiting for a Premier League debut — and Leoni is returning from a long lay-off. It’s hardly surprising Iraola wants a tried-and-tested operator to steady the ship for both the Premier League and Champions League campaigns.
Spurs’ stance and the De Zerbi factor
From the Tottenham end, this won’t be straightforward. Roberto De Zerbi rates Van de Ven enormously, and even with previous noises suggesting the player was open to fresh terms, negotiations haven’t clicked into gear yet. That limbo invites opportunists, but selling to a domestic rival — especially one with Liverpool’s ambitions — is a different kettle of fish. Expect Spurs to demand a premium fee for a defender who has been central to their rebuild.
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What happens next
Barcelona’s interest adds spice and leverage for Spurs, potentially pushing the price north. Liverpool must decide whether to go again for a marquee winger or pivot hard for defensive certainty. Given the Reds’ soft underbelly last season, a move for Van de Ven feels like the sensible play — the sort of signing that doesn’t just make headlines, it tightens screws where it matters most.
Bottom line: if Liverpool can tempt Spurs into talks, Van de Ven would immediately raise the floor of Iraola’s defence. But it’ll take serious money — and even more resolve — to get this one over the line.
