Micky van de Ven becomes a target for Man United amid defensive crisis at Old Trafford | OneFootball

With Tottenham staring down the barrel of an unthinkable relegation to the Championship, Premier League clubs have begun targeting their players. A number of players are being linked with a move away from the North London club due to their uncertain future and the troubles they are going through right now.

According to The Athletic, Manchester United are heavily interested in swooping in for Spurs’ lightning-fast defender, Micky van de Ven, ahead of the impending summer transfer window.

To truly understand why United are sniffing around, you just have to look at the sheer chaos at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham relegation could lead to massive fire sale

They are currently sitting two points adrift of safety without a single Premier League win to their name in 2026.

The boardroom has already chewed through managers, sacking Ange Postecoglou, watching Thomas Frank depart in February, and enduring an interim stint under Igor Tudor before desperately handing the reins to Roberto De Zerbi in a last-ditch effort to save their top-flight status.

If Spurs drop, a massive fire sale is entirely inevitable, and Van de Ven, who boasts a market value of around €65m, will be one of the very first to jump ship.

This potential transfer makes undeniable sense for Man United. As they gear up for a return to European competition next season, the INEOS hierarchy desperately wants a top-tier, left-footed center-back to balance out their defensive line.

After watching Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez constantly battle frustrating injuries throughout this campaign, adding a durable, rapid, and elite 25-year-old defender feels like an absolute necessity.

Man United are ready to make big changes

However, even if Spurs get relegated, prying the Dutchman away won’t come cheap. United will need to raise serious funds, and it looks like Manuel Ugarte is the primary man on the chopping block.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was reportedly thoroughly unimpressed with the 25-year-old Uruguayan during a recent defeat to Leeds.

Whether Tottenham miraculously pull off a great escape or inevitably tumble into the Championship, the writing seems clearly on the wall.

Van de Ven is simply too good of a talent to go down with a sinking ship.

If United can ruthlessly trim their own squad and stump up the required cash, Old Trafford could be getting a massive defensive upgrade.