Manchester United have pinpointed Tottenham's Mickey van de Ven as one of their top transfer targets for the summer of 2027, with Michael Carrick keen to bolster the team's defence and introduce greater speed.
Former chief scout at United, Mick Brown, has stated that the 25-year-old Dutchman is at the top of their wish list:
United need defenders, and there aren’t many players better than van de Ven available on the market.
He fits the bill on many fronts: he has significant Premier League experience, he's still young, can play on the left side of defence, and crucially, he possesses incredible speed.
According to Brown, it’s the combination of these attributes that makes van de Ven particularly attractive to Carrick’s side:
As far as I know, he’s right at the top of their list. He’s seen as the ideal option to strengthen the back line.
Van de Ven is capable of playing both in the centre of defence and on the left flank. United see speed as one of the qualities currently lacking in their defensive setup.
The potential future of the defender might be influenced by the situation at Tottenham. The London club has finished 17th in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons and has not started the current campaign well. Van de Ven remained with the club last summer, but another tough season could prompt him to rethink his position.
Liverpool are also showing interest in the Dutchman, as they consider strengthening their defence.
However, Tottenham are reluctant to lose one of their key defenders. Thus, any deal in the summer of 2027 will depend on both the stance of the London club and van de Ven’s own desires.
