Tottenham Hotspur’s quest to bolster their defensive ranks with the signing of Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg has hit a roadblock, with little progress made in reaching a deal so far.
Following the arrival of new head coach Ange Postecoglou, it became evident that strengthening the backline was a top priority, given the team’s poor defensive record in the 2022-23 Premier League season, where they conceded 63 goals in 38 matches, leading to a failure to secure a place in Europe.
As the North London club seeks to reinforce its squad, they are reportedly nearing a deal for Blackburn Rovers’ promising talent, Adam Phillips. However, Postecoglou is also keen on acquisitions that can immediately make an impact on the team’s defensive stability. Among the various center-backs considered, young Dutchman Micky van de Ven has emerged as a prime target.
Van de Ven’s recent performances for the Netherlands Under-21 team in the European Championship, coupled with his impressive 33 appearances in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg, have caught Spurs’ attention. His contributions helped Wolfsburg secure an eighth-placed finish in the German top-flight last season, making it his most prominent involvement in senior football.
Despite the strong interest from Tottenham, negotiations with Wolfsburg have hit a standstill, as the German club is not willing to part ways with their star defender for anything less than £30m. Complicating matters further, Van de Ven recently signed a contract extension, tying him to Wolfsburg until the end of the 2026-27 campaign, giving the club no urgency to sell and generating a transfer fee.
To potentially meet Wolfsburg’s valuation, Spurs might need to finalize the departure of Davinson Sanchez. A fee of over £12m has been agreed upon with Spartak Moscow for the Colombian international’s transfer, but Sanchez is currently reluctant to make the move to Russia.
As Tottenham continues their pre-season preparations, they have conceded four goals in their opening two fixtures. A 3-2 defeat to West Ham United was followed by a 5-1 victory over Singaporean side Lion City Sailors on Wednesday, highlighting the importance of shoring up their defense ahead of the new campaign.
Spurs are also interested in other centre-backs, such as Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen and Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham.
The coming days will be crucial as negotiations continue between Tottenham and Wolfsburg, with both clubs keen to find a resolution that best suits their interests. As Postecoglou seeks to bolster his squad for the upcoming season, securing a solid defensive presence like Micky van de Ven could be a vital piece in the puzzle for Tottenham’s future success.
