Manchester United look set to take on their bitter rivals, Liverpool, in their pursuit of the signature of a Premier League defender with a £100million price-tag.
Manchester United made it six Premier League matches unbeaten under Michael Carrick on Monday night, as the Reds managed to defeat a tough opponent in Everton.
United struggled to break down David Moyes’ side during their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, although super-sub Benjamin Šeško came to his side’s rescue late into proceedings.
The Slovenian forward’s well-taken finish from Bryan Mbeumo’s perfectly weighted pass was enough to ease his side past the Toffees, as the Reds climbed up to fourth in the table.
With UEFA Champions League football well in the sights of Carrick’s side, the Reds are preparing for a busy summer of spending, and look set to rival Liverpool for a £100million-rated defender.
United rival Liverpool for Van de Ven
United, as well as Liverpool, are reportedly closely monitoring the situation of Micky van de Ven, who could be set to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window.
Spurs have suffered an incredibly turbulent campaign under Thomas Frank, which has seen them dragged into a genuine relegation battle as they currently sit only four points above the drop.
TEAMtalk’s sources indicate that the Dutch centre-back is seriously weighing up his options, especially considering that his contract talks with the club remain on hold until the end of the season.
The 24-year-old has many admirable physical attributes, as well as fantastic composure on the ball, which have seen him earn an asking price of £100million, despite his side’s abysmal season.
Could Van de Ven succeed Maguire?
It has been widely reported throughout the season that United’s veteran defender, Harry Maguire, may see his time at Old Trafford come to an end in the summer, with his contract set to expire.
The 32-year-old Englishman has looked revitalised under Carrick and will certainly leave a huge void at the club if he were to depart once his contract runs out.
Despite his side’s awful season, Van de Ven has often stood out for his side and offers a unique range of attributes that clubs would struggle to find if they wished to do so.
Although £100million may eat heavily into United’s budget for the summer, Van de Ven at a lower price could be an ideal candidate to replace Maguire due to his ability both in and out of possession.
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