Jason McAteer and Tim Sherwood have both tipped Liverpool to make a move for Micky van de Ven this summer, with McAteer suggesting the Guehi miss will push Arne Slot toward an approach for the Tottenham centre-back and Sherwood calling him the obvious choice for the left side of Liverpool’s defence.
Journalist Ben Jacobs reported last week that Liverpool is Van de Ven’s preferred transfer destination, though no concrete approach has yet been made by the Anfield club. The pundit consensus, however, is that one is coming.
Why Micky van de Ven suits Liverpool this summer
McAteer’s reasoning is grounded in Liverpool’s recent transfer history. They were strongly linked with Marc Guehi last summer and again in January, but Manchester City got there first in the summer window before Liverpool could act decisively.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, McAteer was direct about the consequence of that miss: “I think they missed out on one there. Leoni came in at the start of the season; obviously, he picked up a really bad injury, which has set him back. There are a couple out there, but Micky van de Ven seems to be on the market. If they do go down, Liverpool might nick him for a little bit cheaper.”
Sherwood was equally clear about the fit, focusing specifically on the positional need Van de Ven fills on the left side of a back four. “I think he’s the obvious choice on that left side, there aren’t many of those about. There is one other, Jarrad Branthwaite, but he ain’t going to Liverpool, so it opens up the door there for Micky to go in there as a Liverpool player.”
What Sherwood said about Van de Ven’s readiness for Liverpool
Sherwood’s endorsement came with a qualification that frames the move as a development opportunity rather than an immediate solution. “I don’t think he’s the finished article; he still needs to develop, but he needs to play with someone like Virgil van Dijk. He’s still learning, but it’s a good option.”
The pairing of Van de Ven’s athleticism with Van Dijk’s experience and organisational authority is an appealing combination on paper, and Sherwood’s point about the learning environment at Liverpool is valid. Van Dijk at 34 would provide exactly the senior influence a 25-year-old with Van de Ven’s quality and energy needs to develop into a genuine leader rather than just a talented defender.
Why Van de Ven’s price depends on what happens on Monday
Van de Ven’s contract runs until 2029, which gives Tottenham the leverage to hold out for a significant fee. Reports this week put the likely valuation at £55-60m, a figure reflecting the interest from Man United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool.
There are also reports that Van de Ven himself is open to signing a new Spurs contract if they survive relegation, which would complicate any approach significantly. If Tottenham stay up, the price is high and the player may choose to stay. If they go down, as McAteer explicitly flagged, Liverpool could secure him for considerably less and with far less resistance from the player himself. Monday’s game against Leeds United could therefore determine not just Spurs’ division for next season but the transfer fee the rest of European football pays for their best defender.
