Tottenham close to long-term deal for Van de Ven

Tottenham Hotspur are poised to secure defender Micky van de Ven to a new long-term contract, marking a significant early achievement for manager Roberto De Zerbi and providing stability for the club ahead of the new Premier League season. A verbal agreement between the club and the 25-year-old Dutch international is in place, with only formalities remaining to finalize the deal, which includes a salary increase.

The agreement follows positive and advanced negotiations throughout the summer, with De Zerbi playing a pivotal role in convincing Van de Ven to commit his future to the club. The defender, who joined Tottenham from Wolfsburg in 2023, had reportedly been considering his future prior to De Zerbi's appointment in March but has been persuaded by the club's renewed ambition and the manager's footballing vision. Van de Ven has expressed optimism about the new direction, stating that the club's changes are important for long-serving players and that he looks forward to playing a more offensive style under De Zerbi.

Van de Ven's decision to stay is seen as a major boost, equating to an important new signing for Tottenham. Despite being hampered by injuries last season, he has...