Club are frightened Liverpool will swoop in and sign 22-year-old with ‘incredible’ pace

Add as preferred source on Google

Tottenham Hotspur are growing concerned that Liverpool might be about to muscle in on their talks to sign Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch U21 defender has been regularly put forward as being a target for Liverpool this summer. But with Jorg Schmadtke reportedly not too keen on the player, interest had seemingly cooled recently.

Instead, Spurs have seemed the team most likely to bring Van de Ven to the Premier League. According to the Evening Standard though, the Reds might not quite be done yet.

They do claim that the 22-year-old is Tottenham’s ‘primary defensive target’ and talks have been held over a move to North London. However, there’s also said to be ‘fears’ that Liverpool are set to ‘hijack’ those talks.

Ironically, should Schmadtke and co end up taking that path, Spurs will reportedly go after another supposed Liverpool target instead – Levi Colwill.

Good luck with that one!

Spurs worried over Van de Ven hijack

For the moment, Liverpool are still a little preoccupied with what’s going on in their midfield to worry about the defence too much. Events of recent days regarding Mr’s Henderson and Fabinho will mean that remains their focus for some time.

But when things in the middle of the pitch are eventually sorted out, they may still need to add a defender to the squad.

For a little while this summer, Van de Ven looked the most likely to be that man. As things have unfolded though, it’s actually Colwill who now seems to be Liverpool’s first choice.

Not too many supporters would argue with that standpoint. But Van de Ven would still have a lot to offer.

His main attribute appears to be his pace. One of his former coaches at Volendam, Ruben Jongkind, recently told BBC Sport that the Wolfsburg man has ‘incredible’ speed the likes of which he’d never seen before.

Liverpool aren’t exactly slow at the back, but Virgil van Dijk certainly isn’t getting any younger. Ibrahima Konate is fast enough, but also isn’t necessarily the quickest around. As a result, an injection of pace such as the one Van de Ven could offer would be useful.

At the moment, it looks like Spurs are still in the driving seat. Should the Reds fail to make any headway on the likes of Colwill though, maybe their worries over Liverpool will turn out to be well-placed.