Agbonlahor: Van de Ven deserves to play for a bigger club

Aston Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor has urged Micky van de Ven to reject a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur and instead pursue a transfer, arguing the Dutchman deserves to play for a bigger club. According to talkSPORT, Liverpool are monitoring Van de Ven.

The Dutch centre-back has once again been a standout performer during another frustrating season for the North London club.

Van de Ven joined Spurs from Wolfsburg in 2023 and still has three-and-a-half years remaining on his current deal.

However, Tottenham are eager to retain the fan-favorite defender, with reports suggesting the player is frustrated by the club’s current direction and wants to see greater ambition before committing his future.

It is understood that Liverpool are keeping tabs on Van de Ven, who has scored six goals since Thomas Frank took charge in the summer.

Agbonlahor believes the defender should aim higher than staying at Spurs long-term.

“In a way, I feel sorry for him—he deserves to play for a bigger club. He won’t stay at Tottenham,” the former Villa forward told talkSPORT.

“Don’t sign a new contract there, Van de Ven. You deserve better than Spurs.”

Agbonlahor’s co-host Alan Brazil agreed, adding another potential suitor.

“For me, he’s the guy I’d go out and buy,” he said. “I bet his agent is driving him mad. I think he could go straight into  Manchester City.”

To this, Agbonlahor replied: “One hundred percent—he’d fit right in immediately.”

The 24-year-old has quickly become a leader in the dressing room and wore the captain’s armband in last month’s 1–0 win over Crystal Palace.

However, tensions boiled over after last week’s 3–2 defeat to Bournemouth, when Van de Ven was involved in a heated exchange with fans.

His relationship with Frank has also been questioned after he appeared to ignore the Spurs manager’s handshake following a 1–0 loss to Chelsea in November.

If Van de Ven chooses not to sign a new deal, Tottenham are expected to demand a significant transfer fee for their most valuable squad asset, aiming to avoid a repeat of the Harry Kane contract saga.

Ultimately, his decision may hinge on Tottenham’s performance this season, as they remain in contention for both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Spurs currently sit 14th in the table, eight points behind Liverpool, who occupy fourth place.

In an effort to boost their chances of qualifying for European competition, Tottenham made a strong start to the January transfer window, signing Conor Gallagher this week for £35 million.

Following Gallagher’s arrival, the club is also expected to complete the signing of Brazilian full-back Souza from Santos for a fee of £13 million.

But returning to Europe’s elite competitions is crucial for Van de Ven, who wants to continue testing himself at the highest level.

Last month on *The Overlap* podcast, the Dutchman revealed: “Our goal this season is to make sure we qualify for the Champions League again. Top four or top five is what we’re aiming for.”