Liverpool are preparing a move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven as a primary long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk, with the 25-year-old reportedly prioritising a switch to Anfield. According to TEAMtalk and Fichajes, the Merseyside club is weighting an offer of up to €90m (£78m) for the Netherlands international, while Tottenham are understood to value the player at £90m or a British record fee for a defender. Van de Ven, who joined Spurs from Wolfsburg for an initial £34.5m in 2023, is reportedly keen to work under Arne Slot after the manager made two previous attempts to sign him during his time in the Eredivisie.
The Arne Slot connection and squad transition
The pursuit of Van de Ven represents a calculated move to manage the eventual decline of Virgil van Dijk, who is now 34. Tactically, Van de Ven is a natural fit for Slot’s high defensive line due to his exceptional recovery pace, which has seen him clocked as one of the fastest players in Premier League history. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Van de Ven confirmed that Slot attempted to sign him for both AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, adding that the coach is "showing again what a brilliant coach he is" at Anfield. Journalists suggest that should both Liverpool and Manchester United formalise interest, Van de Ven would choose the former without hesitation to finally link up with his compatriot.
Tottenham’s valuation and contract leverage
Despite the player's interest in the move, negotiation remains difficult due to Van de Ven's contract status in North London. He is currently tied to Tottenham until June 2029, giving chairman Daniel Levy significant leverage to demand a fee exceeding the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Van Dijk in 2018. Sky Sports previously noted that the defender’s current six-year deal lacks immediate pressure for a sale, though reports indicate he has resisted opening discussions on a further extension. Since his arrival in the Premier League, Van de Ven has established himself as a central pillar of the Spurs backline, but the club’s continued lack of silverware is thought to be a factor in his desire to consider a move to a regular title contender.
Liverpool's recruitment team is expected to monitor the defender's fitness through the remainder of the season before deciding whether to trigger a formal bid in the summer window.