PL superstar has had his head turned by Real Madrid and Barcelona, United need £100m to win the race – report

Manchester United have issues in defence that need sorting out before the start of the new season. The major worry is the poor injury record of Matthijs de Ligt, Luke Shaw, and Lisandro Martinez. After a brilliant first half of the season, the Dutchman has been missing in action for the last three months. As harsh as it sounds, the Englishman always comes alive in a World Cup or Euro year, while being injury-prone in the intervening period. United need reinforcements at the back Additionally, the Argentine’s body appears to be breaking down frequently after suffering several major injuries since his move to the Red Devils. Add Harry Maguire’s uncertain future into the mix, and it is clear to see United need to recruit at the back in the summer. With INEOS preferring players with Premier League experience, it was hardly a surprise to see the 20-time English league champions linked with a blockbuster move for Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur. With the North London side in danger of getting dragged into a relegation scrap, the Netherlands international has turned down contract talks with Spurs, leading to multiple clubs showing interest. Micky van de Ven fits the bill According to SportsBoom, United might ultimately have to endure disappointment with Real Madrid or Barcelona seemingly the 24-year-old’s preferred destination. “Micky van de Ven has turned down contract talks as he eyes a summer exit from Tottenham Hotspur, SportsBoom can reveal. “The defender has had his head turned by interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. And our sources have been told he is not open to discussing a contract extension with the Premier League club as things go from bad to worse for Spurs. “It has been reported that Spurs would want an eye-watering £100million for the centre-back, who they signed from VfL Wolfsburg for £34.5million, which could rise to £43million with add-ons, in 2023. Real Madrid in pole position, Barcelona also in the race “Manchester United were linked with a move for the defender, but our sources have been told that is wide of the mark, with Real Madrid favourites in the race for the defender.” Whether United can sway Spurs’ minds with a record offer for Micky van de Ven remains to be seen. They must not give up so easily that is for sure. Feature image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25