One analyst believes that a Tottenham signing this summer has been even more impressive than James Maddison, and one specific teammate is thriving as a result.
The start of the new season has been incredibly encouraging for Tottenham, with the decision to appoint Ange Postecoglou already proving to be a brilliant move by Daniel Levy.
Gone are the days of Tottenham playing defensively with five at the back. Instead, they have become an attacking team once again, giving their players the freedom to express themselves.
For years, Spurs have been in need of a creative midfielder since Christian Eriksen left the club in 2020.
James Maddison has filled that void and is widely regarded as the signing of the season so far, especially considering his £40m price tag.
However, according to former Newcastle and Crystal Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose, another new addition has been even more impressive.
While working as a pundit on talkSPORT, Ambrose singled out center-back Micky van de Ven as the standout player.
“Van de Ven has impressed me more than anyone because not only has he showcased his abilities, he’s also quick, strong, and reads the game well,” said Ambrose.
“[Cristian] Romero seems to be a different player because he now has a partner on his level. He trusts him and they have built a solid partnership.”
Van de Ven makes an immediate impact
Van de Ven, 22, was one of two center-backs that Tottenham was seriously considering signing during the summer. The other option was Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen.
Choosing the Dutchman over Tapsoba seems to have been the right decision, as his performances at the club level earned him his first two caps for the Netherlands during the recent international break.
Tottenham paid €50m (approximately £43.7m), including add-ons, to sign Van de Ven from Wolfsburg, and he has already made a big impact in north London.
Last season, Tottenham conceded a staggering 63 goals in the Premier League, ranking them as the sixth-worst defensive team. The teams that conceded more finished in the bottom five positions.
In contrast, Tottenham has only conceded eight goals in eight matches so far this season. If they can maintain this defensive record, they would concede 25 fewer goals than last season, which is a remarkable improvement.
Van de Ven has also made an impact in attack, scoring a crucial goal against Luton Town to secure a 1-0 victory when Tottenham was down to 10 men.
Based on the early signs, Tottenham’s signing of Van de Ven has been a brilliant move, and his influence is already being felt.
