A report claims the Spanish giants believe Van de Ven could be prised away for around 50 million euros if he were to push for a transfer.

Madrid had initially planned to wait until the summer to recruit another centre-back, but ongoing problems at the back have forced a rethink.

Despite signing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras in the previous window, defensive depth has again been tested.

The situation has been worsened by a serious injury to Eder Militao. The Brazilian, arguably Real Madrid's best centre-back at present, has suffered a torn hamstring and is expected to be sidelined for up to four months. His absence has accelerated discussions over bringing forward recruitment plans to January.

Madrid are no longer pursuing Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate and have instead turned their attention firmly to the Premier League.

According to E-Noticies, two defenders are under consideration. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is admired, but his profile does not have unanimous backing among Madrid's key decision-makers.

Van de Ven, by contrast, is viewed as the preferred option after an outstanding season at Tottenham.

"Real Madrid's leadership has already narrowed the list of options down to two top-level defenders," said E-Noticies.

"The first is Marc Guehi, a Crystal Palace centre-back, who could arrive at Bernabeu for about 30 million euros. Guehi is especially liked by the coaching staff for his ability to anticipate and play cleanly out from the back.

"However, this option doesn't fully convince the board, who are already considering a much more suitable alternative for what the team needs right now.

"This is Micky van de Ven, a Dutch international defender from Tottenham, whose signing would be around 50 million euros. Even though he's more expensive, his profile fits Real Madrid's requirements perfectly.

"Van de Ven is fast, aggressive, and very strong in one-on-one duels, essential qualities to cover the huge gap left by Eder Militao.

"In addition, his personality and ability to take on responsibilities in high-pressure situations make him an ideal candidate for Bernabeu. In England, they claim Tottenham would listen to offers if the player pushes to leave."

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