Barcelona plot raid for Tottenham mainstay who would be ‘delighted’ to join – report | OneFootball

It is no secret that Barcelona are closely studying the centre-back market with an eye on the summer transfer window later this year.

Within the club, the signing of a central defender is seen as a strategic operation, with the preference being a left-footed player.

The Catalans’ sporting department, led by Deco, has already identified multiple targets in that regard, including Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund and Alessandro Bastoni of Inter Milan.

Now, the La Liga champions have added the name of another left-footed defender as a possible target for the summer.

Micky van de Ven on Barcelona’s radar

Indeed, according to SPORT, Barcelona have set their sights on Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, who is understood to be keen on leaving this summer and would be open to moving to Catalonia.

The Dutchman has been one of Tottenham’s standout performers for a while now and is a player clearly on the rise.

Micky van de Ven a target for Barcelona. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

However, as per the report, the Netherlands international feels his cycle with Spurs, and in the Premier League, is coming to an end, and he would be delighted to join Barça.

Van de Ven’s profile fits Barcelona’s style well. He is comfortable as a left-sided centre-back, can also play at left-back, has good ball distribution, is fast, and, at 24, still has his best years ahead of him.

Currently valued at around €65 million, Van de Ven is firm on his stance of wanting to leave Tottenham at the end of the season, as per the report.

If they do sell, Tottenham, known to be notoriously tough negotiators, would prefer not to strengthen a Premier League rival.

In a recent interview, Van de Ven revealed that he idolised former Barcelona captain and club legend Carles Puyol, praising his intensity on the pitch and his leadership.

With the Blaugrana now monitoring him, the Dutchman could get a chance to follow in his idol’s footsteps.