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Why Tottenham can afford to miss out on £70m star this summer – Opinion

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Jainil Shah | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 9:56 AM ET

We know that Tottenham Hotspur have been looking to reinforce their defensive roster in the ongoing summer transfer window as Daniel Levy looks to add depth and quality in the centre-back options at Hotspur Way, given how Ange Postecoglou was forced to play with a makeshift defensive line for the majority of last season at N17, and the chiefs at Hotspur Way would be looking to ensure that this doesn’t happen when the next season comes around.

With Thomas Frank taking charge of the proceedings at Hotspur Way, he would be looking to get in players that suit his system, complemented by possessing the ability to become one of the best in the position in Europe, and that is where the Lilywhites have been looking at someone like Jarrad Branthwaite, given how he has shown the capacity to play at the top level at Everton.

The Merseysiders centre-back has proven his credentials in the English top tier and is a left-footed option; moreover, he gives you that composure and presence at the back.

But then, as I was thinking about the possibility of bringing him to Tottenham owing to rumours of late about a probable £70m rated transfer to N17, it brought me to a dilemma, an interesting one which was a huge disappointment to all this excitement. There is one reason why the North Londoners should not be looking to secure his signature considering the fact that Thomas Frank already has Micky van de Ven in his roster at N17.

And if the club sees the Dutchman as a genuine long-term starter at Tottenham (which they should), then getting another left-footed centre-back at high cost, like Branthwaite, not only creates redundancy but also puts money in a place with positions that already have players instead of the much-needed reinforcement in other positions in the current squad at Hotspur Way.

Branthwaite really? Micky van de Ven is the long-term left-sided centre-back at N17

When Tottenham fought for Van de Ven from Wolfsburg in 2023, his signing had a clear indication of bringing in someone who has the capacity to anchor the left side of the defence for years to come. And me, while there had been injuries that had sidelined him for weeks at times, he has shown glimpses of his elite potential and recovery pace at Tottenham, complemented by his ability to put in strong tackles in open space and that composure under pressure.

He is possibly among the fastest central defenders in Europe and is suited to defending in high lines as well as in recovery defending. And with Thomas Frank coming into the club, he can play multiple roles under the Dane head coach, who typically plays a narrow and compact defensive line.

So if I am going to go a bit tactically, if Frank were to deploy a 4-3-3, VDV plays as the aggressive LCB who steps out to intercept and recover wide when fullbacks push forward (the aggressiveness depends on whether he is playing with someone like Romero or Collins). Then if we think of a 3-5-2, he shifts wider to cover for inverted wingbacks, acting almost like an auxiliary full-back. So if I am thinking of both of Frank’s more-used hybrid structures, Van de Ven turns out to be the perfect physical and technical profile for what Frank will demand from that left-sided role.

Signing Branthwaite gives Tottenham a squad problem, doesn’t it?

So if the North Londoners were to land Branthwaite, then suddenly you’d have to be either benching Van de Ven, which undermines the investment and planning that has already been made, or you’re there. forced into playing with two left-footed CBs together, which then ends up playing with the build-up and its fluidity — especially if Spurs want a ball-dominant right centre-back (like Cristian Romero or Nathan Collins).

Or worse, you will have to shift Van de Ven to a full-back role, which (in a way) limits how effective he can be.

The thing is, it’s not that Tottenham are raiding for marginal signings like the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal; Tottenham have multiple positions to compound, and then if you are thinking about spending £70m on a profile you already own, it is poor planning.

Author Opinion

I do think that Tottenham’s long-term defensive identity has to be built around Micky van de Ven on the left, not weakened by bringing in an extremely similar profile for such a hefty price point. And if Daniel Levy is determined to have a system-driven transfer strategy under Thomas Frank (as he had at Brentford), then Branthwaite doesn’t fit right for me.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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