The Van de Ven Pivot: Liverpool’s Bold Response to the Guéhi “Hijack”
In the high-stakes theater of the Premier League transfer market, few things sting quite like a “hijack.” For Liverpool and their sporting director Richard Hughes, the afternoon of Friday, January 16, 2026, will likely be remembered as one of the most frustrating chapters in recent memory. After months of courting Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi, the Reds watched in disbelief as Manchester City swooped in to secure a deal for a player who, just months ago, had been on the verge of an Anfield medical.
However, in football, there is no time for mourning. As the “Here we go” for Guéhi to City echoed across social media, reports began to emerge that Liverpool have already pivoted. Their target? Tottenham Hotspur’s lightning-quick Dutchman, Micky van de Ven.
The Marc Guéhi Post-Mortem: What Went Wrong?
To understand Liverpool’s sudden interest in Van de Ven, one must first look at the wreckage of the Guéhi deal. In the summer of 2025, Liverpool were widely reported to have agreed to a £35m deal for the England international. At the eleventh hour, Palace manager Oliver Glasner reportedly threatened to resign if his captain was sold without a replacement, causing the move to collapse.
Fast forward to January 2026, and the situation has turned from a disappointment into a disaster for the Reds. With Guéhi’s contract entering its final six months, Manchester City—dealing with a defensive crisis following a tibial fracture to Joško Gvardiol—leveraged their financial muscle.
The Financial Fallout
For Liverpool fans, the fact that City secured the player for nearly half the price Liverpool were willing to pay in August is a bitter pill to swallow. Critics have pointed the finger at FSG’s “stubborn” financial stance, but the club’s attention has now shifted to a player who many believe has a higher ceiling than Guéhi: Micky van de Ven.
Why Micky van de Ven is the “Arne Slot Dream”
If Marc Guéhi was a target of pragmatism, Micky van de Ven is a target of pure tactical ambition. The 24-year-old Dutchman has become a sensation since joining Tottenham from Wolfsburg in 2023, and his profile perfectly aligns with the evolution of Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
1. Historic Recovery Pace
Van de Ven isn’t just fast for a defender; he is arguably the fastest player in Premier League history, having been clocked at a top speed of 37.38 km/h. For a Liverpool side that famously plays with a high defensive line, this recovery pace is a “get out of jail free” card. Where Ibrahima Konaté has struggled with consistency and fitness, Van de Ven offers the physical insurance policy that Virgil van Dijk has enjoyed for years.
2. The Dutch Connection
Arne Slot’s admiration for Van de Ven is no secret. Reports suggest Slot tried to sign him twice before—once at AZ Alkmaar and once at Feyenoord. The player himself has spoken openly about his “good relationship” with Virgil van Dijk, whom he partners with for the Netherlands. Van de Ven recently admitted to The Overlap that he idolized Van Dijk, fueling rumors that he views a move to Anfield as his “dream destination.”
3. The Left-Footed Factor
Elite left-footed center-backs are the rarest currency in world football. Van de Ven’s ability to provide natural balance on the left side of the defense would allow Van Dijk to transition into a more stationary, “quarterback” role as he nears his 35th birthday.
The “Spurs Problem”: Can Liverpool Actually Get Him?
While the rumors are exciting, the reality of dealing with Tottenham is far from simple. Unlike the Guéhi situation, where the player had six months left on his deal, Van de Ven is contracted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until 2029.
Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham is reportedly preparing to counter Liverpool’s interest by offering the Dutchman a massive new contract that would see his wages double to £200,000-per-week, placing him on par with captain Cristian Romero. Furthermore, with Spurs currently struggling in the bottom half of the table under Thomas Frank, the club cannot afford to lose their most valuable asset to a direct Premier League rival.
The Risk Factor: Hamstrings and High Fees
Any move for Van de Ven would likely require a fee in excess of £70m–£80m, a significant jump from the £20m City paid for Guéhi. There is also the “red flag” of Van de Ven’s injury record; the defender has missed 36 Premier League games over the last two seasons due to recurring hamstring issues. For a Liverpool squad already missing key stars like Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak, adding another “injury-prone” star is a massive gamble.
Final Verdict: Pivot or Panic?
The news that Liverpool are considering Micky van de Ven as a Marc Guéhi alternative marks a turning point in the Arne Slot era. It is a move that signals Liverpool are no longer looking for “bargain bin” fixes, but are instead targeting world-class talent to maintain their status at the top of the European game.
However, the pressure is now firmly on Richard Hughes and the recruitment team. Having let Guéhi slip through their fingers twice, failing to land a top-tier defender this January could leave the “Tractor Boys” of the title race—as some rivals have begun calling the resilient Liverpool—vulnerable at the back during the most crucial stretch of the season.