Van de Ven, who arrived in north London on a six-year deal in 2023, continued his remarkable rise with a brace in Spurs' 3–0 win over Everton on Sunday. The goals - his fourth and fifth of the campaign - made him the team's leading scorer this season and underscored his growing influence in both penalty areas.

"Yeah, very happy with Micky," Frank said ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup fourth-round clash at Newcastle. "He has been brilliant since he signed, and he's taken real steps forward this season. He's defending even better, still very good on the ball, and now he's adding headed goals too. That's something I'm very pleased about - he's a real threat from set-pieces."

With club captain Cristian Romero sidelined through injury, Van de Ven has assumed an even greater leadership role in recent weeks, helping to stabilize a Spurs side sitting third in the Premier League - five points off leaders Arsenal. Frank believes that growth in character is just as important as the goals.

"His character and leadership are also growing," he continued. "As far as I know, we have a good contract with him, and I definitely see a big future for him here. He's happy, he enjoys his football, and everyone around the club feels the same. That's what really matters."

The Dane's relaxed tone is all the more notable given reports that Real Madrid are monitoring the 24-year-old's progress. Yet Frank has made it clear that he sees Van de Ven as central to Tottenham's long-term plans - much like Romero and midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who both committed to new contracts earlier this year.

Tottenham's focus now turns to their trip to St James' Park, where they face holders Newcastle in the League Cup. Frank, who has made at least one change in every game since taking charge in June, hinted at further rotation but reiterated his determination to keep Spurs competitive on all fronts.

"We've got players who experienced the Europa League win last season," he said. "That taste of success makes you hungry for more. Of course, we'll rotate a bit - we've been playing every three or four days - but make no mistake, we're going for it. We want to win trophies."

For all the speculation swirling around him, Van de Ven appears to be thriving - a symbol of both Spurs' defensive resilience and their renewed ambition under Frank. As the manager put it simply: "He really enjoys his time here - and that's a very good sign."

Dates, venues, and kick-off times for the Nedbank Cup round of 16 confirmed