Micky van de Ven’s name is starting to circulate strongly around Old Trafford. At 24, the Tottenham center back has emerged on the radar at a moment of rupture, both for those watching and for the one being watched. United need to redefine their backbone, while Tottenham are living through a season that raises real doubts about direction, ambition and continuity.
United’s interest didn’t come from the current chaos at Tottenham, it goes back further. The club have tracked Van de Ven since his Bundesliga days, when he was still playing for Wolfsburg. That long-standing interest carries more weight now as United officially move into a rebuilding phase, with the departure of some players, including Casemiro, already part of the picture.
A stalled Tottenham and an uneasy asset
Tottenham’s season helps explain why Van de Ven’s future has become such a talking point. The team sit just 14th in the Premier League under Thomas Frank and project a constant sense of a transition that never quite gets off the ground.
Internally, Tottenham still lean on a long-term contract, valid through 2029, to hold a firm stance, but that hasn’t quieted the noise. The club know interest from direct rivals is growing and responded the way clubs often do in these situations, by inflating the price. The £100 million asking figure works as a shield, as journalist Graeme Bailey has pointed out.
United’s dilemma between boldness and recent scars
For Manchester United, the situation is delicate precisely because of the past. The club know that any defensive investment above £80 million will inevitably be compared to the Harry Maguire case.
The difference now is context. Van de Ven wouldn’t be brought in to justify a price tag, but to fill a specific role within a project that still needs a clear identity.
The fact that Liverpool are also monitoring the defender adds another layer of pressure. United see Van de Ven as a chance to fix a structural weakness without falling back on short-term gambles.