Ange's lingering Celtic connection sets Tottenham transfer in motion as forgotten star clears Micky van de Ven path

Former Celtic stopper Moritz Jenz has smoothed the way for Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven to join Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham revolution.

Jenz, who starred on loan for Postecoglou’s Hoops side last term, joined Wolfsburg for £6.8million from FC Lorient three weeks ago. And that has allowed the Bundesliga club to cash in on their highly rated Dutch centre-back for £30million. Jenz was brought in at Parkhead last summer to provide cover for Carl Starfelt and was a regular early in the campaign. But the Swede’s return from injury forced him out of the side and the stopper cut his time at Parkhead short in January to seal another loan move to German side Schalke.

The 24-year-old was rated as one of the best defenders in the second half of the Bundesliga season, despite Schalke’s relegation. And Wolfsburg snapped up Jenz in June, knowing that van de Ven – dubbed the next Virgil van Dijk - is keen on a big move to England’s top flight.

His switch to Tottenham still hasn’t been finalised but the 22-year-old defender is expected to become Postecoglou’s second signing at his new club after Leicester playmaker James Maddison. Wolfsburg seem to think the transfer will go through as they still haven’t given a shirt number to Jenz.

It has been speculated that’s because the former Hoops loanee could land the No.5 jersey that belongs to van de Ven. Both Jenz and fellow defensive recruit Cedric Zesiger still don’t have a number and it has been claimed that’s because Wolfsburg don’t want young fans splashing out on a replica shirt with an incorrect shirt number.

Jenz isn’t the first player to have traded the Hoops for the green and white of Wolfsburg as Brian O’Neil spent two-and-a-half seasons with the German club from 1998-2000.

R