Van de Ven's Anfield Path Looks Certain If Liverpool Come Calling

Tottenham's defensive linchpin Micky van de Ven faces an uncertain summer, with relegation looming large and two of England's biggest clubs circling.

The Spurs backline has been a rare bright spot during a torrid campaign, but with Roberto De Zerbi's side perched in the drop zone just two points clear of West Ham, the prospect of top-flight football disappearing entirely grows more real by the week.

Should the unthinkable happen and Spurs plummet into the Championship, transfer expert Ben Jacobs has made it abundantly clear: Van de Ven will "almost certainly leave" the club.

The £35m signing from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2023 has established himself as one of the league's most promising centre-backs, which explains why a £100m valuation has been attached to his name. Yet relegation would dramatically alter that asking price, making him a far more accessible target for potential suitors.

The Liverpool Advantage

Here's where it gets interesting for the Red Devils. Should Spurs remain in the Premier League, the situation becomes murkier. Cristian Romero is expected to depart regardless, which might actually work in Tottenham's favour—a Van de Ven contract extension becomes more plausible under De Zerbi's stewardship.

But if Liverpool do enter the fray alongside Manchester United, there's little mystery about where the Dutchman's loyalties lie.

According to Jacobs, Van de Ven would pick Anfield "with absolute confidence" if given the choice between Liverpool and United. The appeal is multifaceted: linking up with Virgil van Dijk, a fellow countryman he knows well, represents a significant draw. Van Dijk's contract situation—expiring within a season—means Van de Ven could inherit the defensive leadership role at a club that clearly resonates with him and his family.

United remain in the conversation for now, keeping tabs on developments without having made any formal approach to either the player or Spurs. Liverpool, similarly, are monitoring the situation as they search for defensive reinforcements.

Yet should both clubs move decisively, the outcome appears predetermined. Van de Ven's preference would be Liverpool, and that preference looks rather immovable.