Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of an agreement with Wolfsburg to sign defender Micky van de Ven in a package approaching £43million (€50m) including add-ons.
Subject to a deal between the clubs being finalised, the left-sided centre-back will travel to the UK to undergo a medical and complete the transfer on a long-term contract.
The Dutchman made 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, helping Wolfsburg finish eighth.
Van de Ven is set to become Tottenham’s fourth summer signing after the arrivals of James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario and Manor Solomon.
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Van de Ven: Profiled
Analysis from The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor.
Part of his reputation comes from his physical stature. He’s 6ft 3in (191cm), broad-shouldered and, in 2022-23, the Bundesliga ranked him as the quickest centre-back in the German top flight.
Running speed statistics shouldn’t always be taken literally but in this case, they do describe the athlete; outrunning him would be like to trying to evade that big rock rumbling after Indiana Jones in Raiders Of The Lost Ark.
He’s been largely excellent for Wolfsburg and it’s not unreasonable for him to be deemed an option for RB Leipzig, should they sell the mighty Josko Gvardiol this summer.
These are not impressions formed only from youth tournaments and theory. Van de Ven authored a strong body of work at Wolfsburg last season.
GO DEEPER
50 to watch – Micky van de Ven: Uncompromising defender would bring speed and strength to Spurs
(Photo: Getty Images)
