Tottenham declare defender Micky van de Ven untouchable in transfer market
Tottenham Hotspur have categorically ruled out the sale of centre-back Micky van de Ven this summer, despite preparing for the likely departure of fellow defender Cristian Romero following a record £235m spending spree.
The North London club have already invested heavily during the current transfer window to bolster their squad.
Attention is now shifting towards offloading fringe players to balance the books ahead of the new campaign.
However, the lightning-fast Dutch international will not be permitted to leave under any circumstances.
Romero set for departure
Speculation had recently mounted regarding potential big-money bids from Liverpool and Barcelona for the standout defender.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has dismissed these links entirely, confirming the former Wolfsburg man remains completely central to the club’s plans.
“Van de Ven is absolutely untouchable,” Romano stated.
Conversely, Argentine World Cup winner Cristian Romero is widely expected to secure a move away from the Premier League side.
The anticipated defensive reshuffle has already seen the arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi to fill the impending void.
De Zerbi influence vital
The left-sided centre-half is currently tied down to a long-term contract that runs until the summer of 2029.
The player himself appears highly motivated to remain and thrive under the tactical guidance of manager Roberto De Zerbi.
The Italian tactician stepped into the managerial dugout during a turbulent period last season and immediately restored morale.
“We’ve been through a rollercoaster and since Roberto came in, I think a new positive flow came into the group,” the Netherlands international revealed.
The highly-rated defender credited the former Brighton boss with pulling him out of a difficult mental slump at the training ground.
“He said to me, ‘you’re going to be a really important player for me these last couple of games and I’m going to rely on you,’” the defender added.
The commanding centre-back noted that this strong man-management approach was applied across the entire dressing room to rebuild collective belief.