Liverpool weigh a bold swap to shore up their leaky defense
21 January 2026
Liverpool weigh a bold swap to shore up their leaky defense
Liverpool are closely watching the Dutch centre-back Micky van de Ven at Tottenham, with potential plans to lodge a tempting offer in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Guardian reported this interest as Spurs slump in form this season, while the Reds push to strengthen their back line after the failed bid to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
Liverpool are prepared to pay up to 78 million pounds for the 24-year-old, who has shone for Spurs in recent seasons thanks to his pace and defensive intelligence.
A swap deal involving Curtis Jones moving to Tottenham has been floated, but the London club is not ready to sell their defender in January amid the current tactical crisis under coach Thomas Frank and a string of injuries.
Liverpool now face a severe defensive crisis, with Ibrahima Konaté’s contract nearing its end without renewal, a teenager Giovanni Leoni out with an ACL, and repeated injuries to Joe Gomez, making defensive reinforcement a priority for Arne Slot.
Meanwhile, the Champions League backdrop keeps fans guessing as Marseille loom in a separate subplot for those hoping for another blockbuster move.
Punchline: If this defense were a rifle, it’d still miss the hype.
Punchline: Liverpool bets defense improves sooner, not later, anyway.
