Pundit Stan Collymore believes Manchester City could make a move for one of Tottenham’s brightest stars in the near future.
Tottenham are enjoying a new lease of life under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou and the Australian’s summer signings are making an impact.
Micky van de Ven might be the pick of the lot with the centre-back quickly establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s best defenders.
Spurs signed the Dutchman for an initial £34.5m – potentially rising to £43m – from Wolfsburg in the summer.
Van de Ven has missed a big chunk of the season with a hamstring injury but impressed before hand and is picking up where he left off now he’s fit again.
Manchester City tipped to sign Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven
Collymore likes what he sees and thinks Van de Ven would be perfect for City.
He wrote for CaughtOffside: “All the talk around him at the moment is about his speed across the ground after he became the fastest-ever player to play in the Premier League after being clocked at 37.38km/h against Brentford last month — he’s crazy fast!
“Van de Ven’s running style actually reminds me of Steven Gerrard, although Gerrard wasn’t as quick across the turf as Spurs’ number 37 is, when you watch clips of the two and how they move, they’re very similar.
“But pace aside, Van de Ven looks like a top-quality signing.
“Fair play to Spurs’ recruitment department because even though he missed a chunk of the season out injured, he looks like he is going to be one of the signings of the season.
“He has excellent positional awareness and looks to be a solid leader who communicates and organises his backline.
“There is no doubt about it, without van de Ven, Ange Postecoglou could not play the way he likes.
“The high defensive line would not work if he didn’t have a player capable of making such good recovery runs and tackles as van de Ven, so his acquisition alone has transformed a huge part of the way Spurs play.
“I think Spurs’ only concern will be keeping hold of him long-term.
“I really wouldn’t be surprised if Real Madrid or Manchester City come in for him in a season or two — they’ve both probably already got their eye on him.
“Daniel Levy should already be preparing a new contract for him; one that includes a clause to prevent the club from losing a player that looks like becoming their most valuable asset.”
Would Manchester City sign Micky Van de Ven?
City have spent heavily on centre-backs in recent years with Josko Gvardiol arriving this past summer as well as Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias in previous windows.
Along with John Stones and Nathan Ake, they are well-stocked at the back but, given Pep Guardiola has been playing centre-backs at full-back over the last year, there could always be additional recruitment.
Van de Ven looks as though he would fit nicely into the City defence. His rapid pace – he recently broke Kyle Walker’s record for the fastest Premier League spring – could be very useful, as would his left foot for distribution.
It might be one to keep an eye on.
