Tottenham Hotspur's difficult season has taken another worrying turn, with reports emerging that key defender Micky van de Ven is now "desperate to leave" the North London club.
Defensive Crisis Mounts for Struggling Spurs
The news comes amid significant interest from Spanish giants Barcelona and follows public criticism of the club's hierarchy by fellow centre-back Cristian Romero. Manager Thomas Frank, appointed only in the summer of 2025, is under increasing pressure with the team languishing in 14th place in the Premier League after a torrid run of form.
According to Spanish publication Sport, Van de Ven is a "dark horse" target for Barcelona as they seek to reinforce their defence. The Catalan club are also considering moves for Marc Guehi, Nico Schlotterbeck, and a primary target, Alessandro Bastoni, who is reportedly priced at a prohibitive £69.4 million.
Van de Ven's Value and Tottenham's Stance
The 24-year-old Dutch international is viewed as one of Tottenham's most important players. With a contract running until 2029 and a market value exceeding £55 million, any sale would command a huge fee, likely well above his current valuation.
Sport claims the player's desire to depart is already established. However, a transfer in the current January window is seen as highly improbable, especially after Spurs sanctioned the sale of Brennan Johnson early in the month. A move next summer is considered a far more realistic possibility, but would require Van de Ven to forcefully push for an exit.
Broken Morale at Tottenham Hotspur
This potential unrest compounds an already toxic atmosphere. Cristian Romero recently took to social media to lambast the club's directors, in a since-edited post that accused them of only "showing up when things are going well, to tell a few lies."
With the team spiralling down the table and fan patience wearing thin, the combined issues of player dissatisfaction and poor results present a major challenge for Thomas Frank and the recruitment team, who are simultaneously trying to strengthen the squad this month.
The immediate focus remains on the pitch, but the long-term stability of the squad is now under serious threat, with one of its brightest assets reportedly eyeing the exit.
