Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly on the verge of agreeing a deal to sign Wolfsburg centre-back Micky van de Ven.
The Lilywhites have been tipped to bring the Netherlands Under-21 international to the Premier League for a number of weeks, while Liverpool were also credited with a brief interest.
The Reds are prioritising midfield reinforcements at present, though, allowing Tottenham to move into pole position for Van de Ven's signature, but a move was seemingly in jeopardy at one stage.
Wolfsburg are believed to have been demanding a sum of £40m to let the 22-year-old leave, which Tottenham had no intention of paying, and there was no breakthrough in negotiations as a result.
However, journalist Fabrizio Romano now reports that Spurs are close to striking an agreement with their German counterparts for Van de Ven, who has already accepted Tottenham's contract proposal.
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Romano adds that the two sides still have a few details to iron out, but the deal should be finalised imminently, and Daniel Levy is spearheading discussions with Wolfsburg.
Tottenham have seemingly had a bid accepted, and once the Lilywhites sort out the payment structure to Wolfsburg, Van de Ven will be on his way to North London.
Spurs are expected to pay around £30m to land the up-and-coming Dutchman, who had a breakout season under Niko Kovac last year, scoring one goal and setting up two more in 36 games in all competitions.
Van de Ven came through the youth setup at Volendam before joining Wolfsburg for just €3.5m (£3m) in the summer of 2021, and the 6ft 4in defender is also capable of playing as a left-back or defensive midfielder.
Van de Ven is yet to make his first appearance for the Netherlands senior team, but he has 11 caps to his name at Under-21 level and played every minute of their recent European Championships campaign, wearing the captain's armband in a 1-1 draw with co-hosts Georgia.
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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has sought to address the defensive deficiencies that saw Tottenham ship 63 Premier League goals last season, and Van de Ven is expected to be one of two new centre-backs to arrive in North London over the coming weeks.
Spurs had apparently agreed a deal worth £5m for Blackburn Rovers' 2005-born starlet Ashley Phillips, but the Championship side backed out of the pact and instead raised their asking price in an attempt to spark a bidding war.
However, a £2m release clause in Phillips's contract will become active on Friday, and Tottenham are now expected to land the teenage centre-back for that cut-price fee.
Van de Ven and Phillips's arrivals could push Davinson Sanchez out of the door, while Joe Rodon and Japhet Tanganga are also facing uncertain futures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs are said to have accepted a £12.9m bid from Spartak Moscow for Sanchez, but the Colombian harbours doubts over a move to Russia and is now thought to be on the radar of Nottingham Forest.
Ben Knapton
