Door opens for Liverpool to complete £70m Premier League centre-back signing | OneFootball

Liverpool are in the midst of a major overhaul at centre-back.

Last summer Richard Hughes signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26m and in summer 2026 Jeremy Jacquet will arrive from Rennes for around £62m.

Others - such as Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe - will also eventually step up to first-team duties.

One reason for so many changes is the uncertainty around key senior defenders - including Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.

Konate, 26, is now expected to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season while it would be no surprise to see Gomez leave if the right bid is made either.

Like Gomez captain Virgil van Dijk is only contracted to the Anfield side until 2027 - meaning a dearth of Premier League experience potentially soon appearing in the heart of the Liverpool backline.

One solution would be to sign an experienced Premier League centre-back - and it looks like the Reds will have an advantage over Barcelona in the chase for Micky Van de Ven.

Football Insider is reporting that Spurs’ valuation of between £60m and £70m for Van de Ven will be too expensive for Real Madrid and Barcelona and that opens the door for Liverpool to complete a deal.

“Tottenham Hotspur have placed a £70million price tag on Micky van de Ven amid interest from the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona,” the report reads.

“His likely £60-70million price tag will likely prove too steep for the Spanish giants to meet, potentially opening the door for the Reds to make a move.”

Micky van de Ven: Situation summary

Micky van de Ven remains a first-choice centre-back for Tottenham but his medium-term future is increasingly uncertain.

Signed from Wolfsburg in 2023, he is under contract until 2029, giving Spurs a strong hand in any negotiations and prompting briefings in January that he is not for sale.

However, he has recently rejected talks over a new five-year deal, opening the door to speculation that he could look to move on if the club’s current trajectory does not improve.

On the pitch in 2025‑26 he has been a regular starter in the Premier League and Europe but, like many of his team-mates, has seen his form questioned in a side dragged towards the wrong end of the table.

Pundits have criticised his decision-making and leadership in big moments, while a recent sending-off has added to scrutiny.

After an injury-hit start to his Spurs career, his availability has been better this season, with only minor issues disrupting his rhythm.

Even so, with Barcelona and others monitoring his situation, and his market value still considered high, the prospect of a summer move cannot be dismissed if Spurs’ struggles continue.