Sunday Mirror Sport reported that Micky van de Ven, Tottenham’s 25‑year‑old, 6'4" centre‑back, is on the radar of Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid as the Spanish club looks to reinforce central defence.
The coverage said Tottenham could demand in excess of €50 million for Van de Ven and that some speculation in England has placed a price around £75 million — roughly €85 million. Liverpool and Manchester United have also been mentioned as potential suitors, and a source quoted by the Mirror suggested Van de Ven fits the profile Mourinho would seek for a back line upgrade.
Van de Ven moved to Tottenham in the summer of 2023 from Wolfsburg after coming through Volendam’s academy. He is reportedly keen on a new chapter after several seasons at Spurs and, per a former teammate, is fast closing on 100 competitive appearances for the club — a tally that will factor into any valuation Tottenham set this summer.
Real Madrid’s interest is framed by their own defensive reshuffle. The squad currently leans on Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger, with Jesús Vallejo Huijsen and Miguel Asencio also involved, and David Alaba is set to leave when his contract expires. The club has been linked with a handful of centre‑backs — Van de Ven has been named alongside Josko Gvardiol — even after the recent additions of Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries.
How much Tottenham will insist on is the immediate practical question for any bidder. The reported floor — north of €50 million — and the higher £75 million figure circulating in England set very different starting points for negotiations. If Tottenham sit on the larger valuation, interested clubs would face a substantial outlay for a defender who, by age and size, fits a premium profile.
Timing complicates the market. Van de Ven will be with the Netherlands at the World Cup, which places any transfer talks against a tournament backdrop that can raise a player’s stock. Teams often delay formal offers until after major competitions; conversely, a standout World Cup showing could push Tottenham’s price even higher.
Inside Tottenham’s orbit, a contrasting public voice is on record. Toby Alderweireld, speaking to a football outlet, praised Van de Ven’s pace, one‑on‑one defending and mentality, and urged patience. Alderweireld argued the player can still improve at Spurs under a new manager, noting the club’s mixed recent fortunes and insisting the environment at the stadium and training ground can help him develop into a top centre‑back.
That position — a player reportedly open to leaving while a respected former colleague counsels staying and improving — is the clearest friction here. It leaves decision‑makers at Tottenham with two questions: whether to accept a large offer now, and whether selling would materially alter the club’s defensive planning under the new manager.
The next concrete step for clubs reportedly interested in Van de Ven is simple and consequential: put a formal bid on the table. Until Tottenham receive an official offer at or above the levels being discussed, the transfer talk will remain speculation shaped by valuations and World Cup timing rather than by completed business. The market will watch whether Real Madrid, Liverpool or Manchester United convert interest into an offer that tests Tottenham’s reported asking price.
