Liverpool’s search for defensive reinforcements looks set to rumble on beyond the transfer window, with a former Netherlands star urging Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven to consider a future move to Merseyside.
The Reds’ backline remains a concern for many, despite the recent capture of Rennes youngster Jeremy Jacquet for an initial £55million. The 20 year old Frenchman won’t join until the summer, leaving Arne Slot short handed amid injuries to Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and the perennially unlucky Joe Gomez. This fragility at the back has led to persistent whispers linking Liverpool with a swoop for Spurs’ rapid Dutch centre back Van de Ven.
“I think van de Ven has to finish the season at Tottenham consistently and show everybody he can go to the next level,” said ex Netherlands winger Eljero Elia. “If he continues like this… he can make a good step to the bigger clubs. Not that Tottenham isn’t a big club, but clubs that are a step above, like Real Madrid and Liverpool. I think it fits his career.”
The speculation persists despite the window being shut, fuelled by uncertainty over Ibrahima Konaté’s contract, Gomez’s fitness record, and young Giovanni Leoni’s long term ACL recovery. Van de Ven’s blistering pace and ball playing ability is seen by some as the ideal profile for Slot’s system, even if any move would be a complex and costly summer operation.
While the defence is a talking point, a more immediate worry is the form of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian king was a peripheral figure for large parts of Saturday’s 4-1 demolition of Newcastle, a result that ended a five game winless league run. He managed an assist for Florian Wirtz, but his struggles were stark, particularly when outpaced and outmuscled by Newcastle’s veteran full back Kieran Trippier.
The performance alarmed former Red Steve Nicol. “We’ve all been asking the same question. How can you go from there to there just so quickly?” Nicol said on ESPN FC. “Trippier caught him comfortably and Salah, during that little passage, at no stage looked comfortable… That’s got to be alarm bells.” Nicol suggested the 33 year old’s dip in explosive pace has shattered his legendary confidence in front of goal. “Now it’s chipping away at his confidence. That confidence looks like it’s shot because any time he gets in a position where he used to pick the top corner out, he can’t get anywhere close anymore.”
The contrasting narratives set up a pivotal final third of the season for Slot. He must find a way to reignite his iconic forward while plotting a summer rebuild at the back, with names like Van de Ven already on the radar. The win over Newcastle showed the attack can fire without Salah at his best, but relying on that long term is a gamble few at Anfield will want to take.
