‘I really wouldn’t be surprised’… Man City tipped to sign ‘top quality’ £35m Tottenham star

Redaction Simon Brett with Dan Murphy
Published on 2024-02-10 17:00:00

Pundit Stan Collymore is of the opinion that Manchester City might be interested in acquiring one of Tottenham’s brightest stars in the near future.

This comes as Tottenham is experiencing a revival under the management of Ange Postecoglou, with the impact of their recent summer signings being felt.

One of these summer signings, Micky van de Ven, has quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s top defenders, quickly becoming the standout player among Postecoglou’s recruits.

Signed for an initial £34.5m – potentially rising to £43m – from Wolfsburg, Van de Ven has made a strong impression despite missing a significant portion of the season due to a hamstring injury.

Collymore sees great potential in Van de Ven and believes he would be a great fit for Manchester City.

He admires Van de Ven’s speed and believes it to be a key trait, comparing it to the running style of legendary player Steven Gerrard.

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.

Being instrumental in Postecoglou’s preferred playing style, Van de Ven’s pace and defensive abilities have transformed Tottenham’s approach.

With City having made heavy investments in center-backs in recent years, the addition of Van de Ven could further strengthen their defensive line. His rapid pace and left-footed distribution could provide valuable assets to City’s defense.

Additionally, the fact that Guardiola has utilized center-backs in full-back roles suggests that there could be interest in acquiring Van de Ven.

Collymore further predicts that Van de Ven could attract interest from other top clubs such as Real Madrid, emphasizing the need for Tottenham to secure his long-term future with the club.

“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.”

This indicates the potential challenges Spurs might face in retaining a player of Van de Ven’s quality, given his value in the transfer market.

In conclusion, Collymore’s comments shed light on the impact and potential of Tottenham’s young star, suggesting that Van de Ven’s abilities could capture the attention of clubs like Manchester City and urging Tottenham to secure his future with the club.

Read Original article on Manchester City News