Liverpool’s Van Dijk successor named by fellow countryman

Tottenham Hotspur are dealing with renewed uncertainty over the way forward for Micky van de Ven, with rising calls from inside Dutch soccer suggesting Liverpool ought to make the proficient defender their subsequent marquee signing.

Since his arrival at Tottenham, Van de Ven has remodeled into certainly one of Europe’s most dynamic younger defenders. His mix of velocity, power, and composure has made him indispensable to Ange Postecoglou’s facet, not solely anchoring the again line but additionally chipping in with essential objectives — six in all competitions to this point this season.

With Cristian Romero sidelined earlier within the marketing campaign, the Dutchman wore the captain’s armband on a number of events, underlining his rising affect each on and off the pitch. It’s little shock, then, that Spurs are desperate to safe him on a brand new long-term deal. Nonetheless, studies recommend that negotiations are but to progress, and that delay has prompted hypothesis from a number of the sport’s most revered voices.

Former Chelsea and Netherlands defender Khalid Boulahrouz has publicly backed Van de Ven to develop into each Liverpool’s and the Dutch nationwide crew’s long-term substitute for Virgil van Dijk. Talking to ESPN NL, Boulahrouz praised Van de Ven’s defensive maturity and bodily dominance, suggesting that he’s already working at an elite stage.

“He actually stands out,” Boulahrouz stated. “He’s bodily sturdy and extremely quick. Opponents know that, so that they don’t even attempt to get previous him anymore. He may very well be higher on the ball generally; he makes the occasional mistake. However total, I feel he’s unbelievable. I feel he’s the best successor to Virgil van Dijk, each for the Dutch nationwide crew and Liverpool.”

The previous Netherlands worldwide additionally pointed to Van Dijk’s age and workload as elements that would finally affect Liverpool’s switch plans. “The query is what Virgil will do after the World Cup. If you’ve been taking part in within the Premier League for years, your physique has taken a beating. You would possibly begin longing to take it a bit simpler,” Boulahrouz added.

Regardless of Boulahrouz’s feedback, Van Dijk stays central to Liverpool’s ambitions beneath Arne Slot. The 34-year-old signed a contract extension earlier this yr, tying him to Anfield till 2027. He continues to marshal the defence together with his trademark authority and composure, conserving himself forward of Ibrahima Konaté and Jarell Quansah within the pecking order.

Nonetheless, there’s a rising sense inside Dutch circles that Liverpool will finally must plan for succession. Van de Ven, together with his uncooked tempo and anticipation, seems the pure candidate. His consolation on the left facet of central defence may additionally enable Van Dijk to shift to the precise, probably making a formidable partnership quite than a handover.

For Tottenham, the rapid precedence is to increase Van de Ven’s contract and fend off suitors. The north London membership know that after Europe’s elite start circling, the state of affairs may escalate rapidly. Van de Ven’s market worth has soared following his stellar performances domestically and in Europe, and dropping him can be a major blow to Postecoglou’s evolving undertaking.

Whereas Liverpool’s recruitment crew — led by Richard Hughes — have made no formal transfer, admiration for Van de Ven is widespread. Ought to Van Dijk start to wind down his Premier League profession within the coming seasons, a transfer for his compatriot may align completely with Liverpool’s subsequent defensive rebuild.

For now, Tottenham’s focus should be retention, not response. But as Boulahrouz identified, the Dutch inheritor to Van Dijk’s throne might already be flourishing in north London.