Tottenham is very aware of the growing interest in the market for signing Micky van de Ven and has set a minimum price for clubs such as Liverpool and Real Madrid to make their offers during the January transfer window, even though its main plan is still to prioritize contract renewal.
According to Spanish media reports, the €100 million price tag is the asking price for bids to be submitted. The defender's recent Premier League highlights include a decisive performance against Everton, in which he scored two goals and was instrumental in the victory, a moment that certainly boosted his market value.
The combination of Van de Ven's talent as a young defender with room for improvement, his highly valued central/defensive position in the current market, and his recent form in terms of goals and defensive solidity help explain such a high price tag. Spurs' tactic seems twofold: to set a high asking price to deter intermediate offers, while at the same time working on a salary/contract proposal that will convince the player to stay.
For Spurs, keeping Van de Ven in their squad stabilizes the defense and avoids having to immediately reinvest large sums in a replacement. If the team wants to compete at a high level in the Premier League and European competitions, having young center backs on long-term contracts is preferable.
The main targets showing interest in signing
Real Madrid looking for defensive reinforcements for the next transfer window and is reportedly watching Van de Ven as an alternative or complement to other center-backs. Their idea would be to strengthen a defensive line that, at times, has shown a need for depth.
Liverpool also shows interest, as part of a possible search for alternatives to targets such as Marc Guehi, especially if the club considers that it needs to strengthen its defense with a player with physical profile and progression ability. The Reds could even pay a high price if the urgency for reinforcements in January arises.