Sherwood: Man United Must Not Miss Out on Van der Ven After Missing Rice and Kane
Commentator Tim Sherwood believes Manchester United will not want to miss the chance to sign Micky van der Ven and could even outmaneuver Liverpool to secure the Tottenham defender. While hoping Spurs can retain him, once a player decides to leave, it becomes difficult to stop. United previously missed out on signing Declan Rice and Harry Kane, instead bringing in several mediocre or underperforming players; they won’t want to repeat that mistake with Van der Ven.

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Since joining Tottenham in 2023 from Wolfsburg for an initial £34.5 million, the Dutch defender has been a key part of their defense. This season, he has made 30 appearances across all competitions, scoring 7 goals and providing a reliable attacking threat from the back. His contract runs until 2029, but rumors of a summer departure are growing, especially given Tottenham’s disappointing league form under Thomas Frank.
Last month, the Daily Mail reported Liverpool’s growing interest in the 24-year-old, with a potential summer bid possible. Spurs strengthened their defense late in January by signing young talent Jérémy Yakei, but further reinforcements may be needed, especially if Ibrahima Konaté leaves on a free transfer.
Sherwood expects Van der Ven to trigger a competitive summer transfer race, with Manchester United potentially leading the chase. “As long as he stays healthy, there will be a long line of clubs pursuing him,” Sherwood told CasinoStugan. “I hope Spurs can keep him, but once a player is determined to leave, it becomes very difficult. If you don’t let him go, you could end up losing both player and money.”
He added, “It all depends on Spurs’ managerial choice this summer. They’ve made mistakes before, but this time it looks like they got it right. Manchester United is a club capable of returning to the top quickly, thanks to its brand and financial power, offering top salaries to elite players.”
Sherwood continued, “United previously missed opportunities to sign Rice and Kane, instead bringing in seven or eight mediocre or even poor players. This time, they won’t miss Van der Ven. He will be at the top of many top clubs’ transfer lists, and Spurs will have to fight hard to keep him. The only way to retain him is if he believes in the team’s future, but currently Spurs are only 14th in the Premier League, out of both domestic cups, though performing well in the Champions League. The coming tests will be tougher.”
Despite growing interest, Spurs are unlikely to sell a key player without a substantial fee. talkSPORT reports that the North London club has valued Van der Ven at £100 million, meaning any buyer would have to make him the most expensive defender in history.
When asked about transfer rumors last month, Spurs manager Thomas Frank said:
“He is very important to us. Micky is, and will remain, a Tottenham player. He is a top-class player and an excellent ambassador for the club. He is having the best season of his career so far—strong, defensively excellent, increasingly leadership-oriented, and can score goals. This season and beyond, he is vital to us.”