While Liverpool successfully revamped their midfield with four new signings during the summer transfer window, they failed to strengthen their defensive ranks despite attempting to do so.
One centre-back with whom they were strongly linked was Micky van de Ven, who had been recommended to the club by sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, the man who brought him to Wolfsburg in 2021 (TEAMtalk).
However, the £50,000-per-week defender (Capology) grew impatient with the Reds’ delay in making a move for him, and once Tottenham communicated their interest, the Dutchman jumped at the chance to join Ange Postecoglou’s side (TEAMtalk).
It’s a decision for which numerous Spurs fans have been thankful, judging by the reactions on social media to his latest performance for the club (via Football Insider).
Van de Ven has been ever-present for his new side in the Premier League thus far, and he’s already bagged one winning goal for them, netting the decisive strike against Luton earlier this month (Transfermarkt).
He gave another assured display in Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Fulham last night, which put them back on top of the table, completing 61 of his 66 passes (92% success), winning three duels and making five clearances and two tackles (Sofascore).
As impressive as that passing return was, it actually falls below his incredible average of 94.3% in the division so far and is the fifth-highest of anyone to have started three or more games in the current top-flight campaign (WhoScored).
The 22-year-old also has a very respectable match average of 1.4 successful aerial duels, bettered by only three players at Liverpool (WhoScored), and he misplaced just one pass out of 54 in Spurs’ win against us at the end of September (Sofascore).
Van de Ven has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, and even with Jurgen Klopp having some very capable centre-backs at Anfield, he might still be regretting the Reds’ hesitancy to move for the Dutchman, thus allowing Tottenham to swoop for what already looks a tremendous coup.
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