Tottenham star Micky van de Ven will be a vital player for Spurs this season following a superb first Premier League campaign in 2023/24.
The 23-year-old opted to make the move to English soccer last summer after two years with Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg with three EPL goals scored from 27 top-flight appearances.
Van de Ven caught the eye in Ange Postecoglu's team, for his pace calmness on the ball at the heart of Spurs' defence, with the second-highest pass completion rate in the top-flight (94%).
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A persistent hamstring injury disrupted the second half of his debut campaign in North London, but he is now back to full fitness, and ready to play a crucial roles for Postecoglu.
Former Tottenham center-back Sebastien Bassong offered his view on the Dutch star's progress and he believes the towering defender is the best in the league.
"He's top-notch. Honestly, from last season, I couldn’t praise him enough", as per an interview with talkSPORT, via Teamtalk.com.
"Sometimes I go to the game, or watch the game, and people ask me ‘who is the No.1 defender in the league?’ I say van de Ven. For me, he's the best overall player.
"He’s quick, strong and good on the ball. He takes risks. When he's in trouble, he doesn't panic, he's so calm on the ball.
"He's the perfect player."
Tottenham opened their EPL campaign with a 1-1 draw against Leicester City, before securing a 4-0 home win over Everton, with van de Ven completing 90 minutes in both games.
Up next for Spurs is a Premier League trip to Newcastle United on September 1 ahead of the international break.