Roberto De Zerbi will have to fight hammer and tongs to keep his best players at Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
Real Madrid reportedly want to sign Micky van de Ven from Tottenham Hotspur. The 25-year-old defender has recently been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer as Jose Mourinho, who’s yet to be formally unveiled as the new Los Blancos boss, looks to bolster his backline.
Over the weekend, Florentino Perez claimed victory in the first contested presidential election at Real Madrid since 2006. During the 79-year-old’s campaign to remain at the helm, he announced that the former Chelsea and Spurs gaffer would be appointed as head coach if he were successful.
Perez also promised the signings of Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries from Liverpool and Inter Milan, respectively. He held his position, fending off Enrique Riquelme, who stood against him.
Mourinho, who left Benfica at the end of the season, now looks set to take charge of Real Madrid for the second time in his career, and he’s been tasked with leading a rebuild. Eager to deliver silverware to the Spanish capital next season, the 63-year-old has reportedly set his sights on Van de Ven.
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According to the Sunday Mirror, Los Blancos are ready to move for the Netherlands international, who could command an offer in excess of £75million. The report claims that Mourinho wants to sign a new centre-half as a priority this summer.
The newspaper also reckons that a source close to Van de Ven’s camp said: “Micky ticks all the boxes for Mourinho. Real are ready to go for him.”
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Real Madrid are also interested in signing Josko Gvardiol from Manchester City. As it stands, it is very unlikely that Tottenham would be prepared to entertain offers for Van de Ven, who’s currently on international duty at the World Cup.
Roberto De Zerbi would be devastated if he were to lose the Dutchman this summer, having previously showered him with the utmost praise. Speaking to reporters last month ahead of the last day of the Premier League season, the Italian was asked about Van de Ven.
“I think he is the best centre back in the Premier League,” said De Zerbi. “We talk a lot of time because I think he suffered maybe too much for the situation of Tottenham this season.
“He’s a sensitive guy, he’s a good guy, and in my time, I think he played amazing. And for that, I’d answer he’s the best centre back, left centre, in the Premier League.”
Van de Ven will be in action on Sunday night when the Netherlands begin their World Cup campaign against Japan. Both Mourinho and De Zerbi will be keeping tabs the centre-half in preparation for next term.
