Micky van de Ven has emerged as the cornerstone of Tottenham's rebuilding project, with former Spurs full-back Alan Hutton insisting the Dutch defender must remain at the club if they harbour any ambition of returning to elite status. The 23-year-old has attracted attention from Liverpool and other top-six rivals, but Hutton believes selling such a foundational piece would undermine any realistic attempt at sustained improvement.
Tottenham endured back-to-back 17th-place finishes before scraping survival in 2025-26, finishing just two points clear of the relegation zone. Roberto De Zerbi steadied the ship following the departures of Ange Postecoglou—who delivered Europa League glory—and interim managers Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor. The gap to rivals like Arsenal, who claimed the Premier League title, has widened considerably, raising serious questions about whether Spurs can still be considered genuine challengers.
Van de Ven as Captain-in-Waiting
Hutton told GOAL that Van de Ven's retention is non-negotiable for next season's restructuring. "That's one guy they have to keep," the former Scotland international explained. "If they want to build and be stronger, he's your captain in waiting because I think Cristian Romero will probably be off. These are the kind of guys you build around." Hutton highlighted Van de Ven's elite-level attributes: technical quality, pace, strength, and an unusual goalscoring threat from defence—all qualities essential for a side aiming to compete in the Champions League.
The defensive rebuild carries additional weight given uncertainty surrounding Romero's future. Losing both centre-halves would leave Spurs scrambling to identify replacements in an increasingly expensive market. Hutton warned that selling Van de Ven to another Premier League club would force an expensive replacement search that could derail financial planning across multiple windows.
Can Tottenham Reclaim 'Big Six' Status?
When asked whether Spurs deserve to be classified among England's elite, Hutton was candid: "I don't think so. You have to show the mentality of a squad that can consistently compete at the top, and they haven't done that." Despite significant investment and strong commercial operations, Tottenham's on-pitch performance has not matched financial resources. The club must now demonstrate whether they can arrest their decline or face a prolonged period outside the Champions League.
With the summer transfer window presenting both opportunities and threats, retaining Van de Ven represents the clearest signal that Tottenham intend to build rather than merely survive. How they navigate the coming weeks will determine whether another relegation battle beckons or genuine recovery begins.
