What happened: Tottenham have no plans to sell centre-back Micky van de Ven this summer, with no move to Liverpool or Barcelona in the works, according to Fabrizio Romano. The club regards the Netherlands international as a key part of the project, and manager Roberto De Zerbi wants him to stay. No exit is planned for the window.

Why it matters: Retaining van de Ven settles a question at the heart of Tottenham's defence as the side builds toward the 2026/27 campaign. It signals an intent to hold onto core talent rather than cash in, a notable stance after an active period of business. Links to Premier League and La Liga rivals had gathered pace, but the position from the club is firm.

What to watch: Watch whether any rival club tests the stance with a formal bid, and whether Tottenham move to open contract talks to lock in the commitment.