By David Lynch, Merseyside Correspondent

25th Jun, 2023 | 12:00pm

Revealed: Liverpool race Tottenham to sign Van de Ven - sources

Liverpool are prepared to battle Tottenham for Wolfsburg star Micky van de Ven this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

The Reds are in the market for a new centre-back and have identified the 22-year-old as a key target ahead of the 2023/24 season.

It is understood that Liverpool have begun laying the groundwork for a defensive signing this summer, with Jurgen Klopp eager to bolster his backline.

Klopp’s ideal profile for a defensive signing this summer is a versatile operator who can play in an orthodox back four as well as in a back three to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to assume his new-found role in midfield.

Liverpool’s recruitment team believe Van de Ven is capable of filling such a role in Klopp’s system and will look to compete with Tottenham for his signature.

Van de Ven enjoyed a breakthrough season with Wolfsburg in 2022/23, making 36 appearances for the Bundesliga side across all competitions.

He played the full 90 minutes in all but one of Wolfsburg’s league fixtures last campaign.

It is a huge increase in game time from Van de Ven’s first season with the club in 2021/22, where he played just 189 minutes all season across five appearances.

Prior to his Wolfsburg move in 2021, Van de Ven started his career at Eredivisie side Volendam.

He rose through the club’s youth academy and graduated to the first team in 2019.

Van de Ven went on to make 48 senior appearances for the side, playing at both centre-back and left-back for the Dutch club.

In other news, Liverpool midfielder update as talks begin