Liverpool have £57m reason to hope Tottenham get relegated after Fulham loss | Football | Sport
Liverpool might privately be hoping Tottenham are relegated from the Premier League this season. Spurs’ fourth successive defeat, a 2-1 reverse away at Fulham, leaves them four points above the relegation zone with 10 games to play – including a trip to Anfield on March 15. They remain winless in the league in 2026 and have lost six of their 10 matches this year.
If Spurs are demoted to the Championship, there is sure to be serious upheaval at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Already, they are looking for a new long-term manager. Igor Tudor was installed only as a temporary boss and has since been heavily critical of the squad and the club. On top of the playing staff, the squad will be heavily restructured too – with many international players unlikely to want to play in the Championship.
Among those who could leave is Liverpool-linked centre-back Micky van de Ven. Despite Spurs’ disastrous season, Van de Ven’s personal stock remains high. The Netherlands international has scored seven goals this term and captained the team during Cristian Romero’s recent suspension.
Van de Ven is said to be on Liverpool’s shortlist as they seek to strengthen their defence. Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the season, while Virgil van Dijk is 35 this July and his deal expires in 18 months. Giovanni Leoni will not be fit until the summer after an ACL tear and Joe Gomez has also been dogged by injuries again. Jeremy Jacquet is joining from Rennes but the 20-year-old also recently suffered a season-ending problem.
That should make signing one more centre-back a priority for the Reds this summer. Turning 25 next month and with an extraordinary physical profile, as one of the fastest defenders in Europe and an excellent ball-player, Van Dijk’s international team-mate Van de Ven ticks plenty of boxes for the Merseyside club.
He now has 84 appearances for Spurs and 179 at club level in his career. Liverpool became known under Jurgen Klopp for signing talented players in their early-to-mid-20s, with a solid bank of senior appearances under their belt (ideally 150-200), and crucially the potential to go to new heights in a better team.
Van de Ven fits that mould. And prising him away from Tottenham would become a lot easier and cheaper if Tudor’s team were relegated. Transfrmarkt estimates the Dutchman’s value at £57million. If Spurs remain a top-flight team, Liverpool would do well to get him out of north London for less than £70m. Spurs paid Wolfsburg an initial £34.5m, rising to £43m, for him in 2023.
If Spurs were bumped into the second tier, clearly Van de Ven is far too good to play in the Championship. And Liverpool might feel they can bring their big six rivals down to £50m or less, given the player would presumably be keen on the move.
Liverpool signing the defender is not entirely reliant on Spurs’ relegation but a move may ultimately hinge on Konate’s future. Should the Frenchman leave Anfield as a free agent, they will need a suitably experienced replacement if they are to challenge for the Premier League title again next year. Van de Ven could be that replacement.
But if Konate opts to sign a new deal, Liverpool may decide that, with Van Dijk, Konate, Jacquet, Leoni and Gomez (if he stays), they have enough options in the position. The Reds will keep a keen eye on Spurs in the meantime, knowing they can contribute to their potential relegation at Anfield this month.
