Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their summer rebuild by submitting an official bid for Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, according to reports from David Ornstein.
After narrowly escaping relegation and securing Premier League survival under Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs are determined to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign. Having already agreed deals for Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, the North London club have now turned their attention to another defensive reinforcement.
Van Hecke has emerged as a key target for De Zerbi, who worked closely with the Dutch defender during their time together at Brighton. The 25-year-old has impressed consistently for the Seagulls and is viewed as an ideal addition to Tottenham’s back line.
The Netherlands international is entering the final year of his contract at Brighton and has attracted interest from several clubs. However, Tottenham are believed to be the first side to make a formal approach. Their opening offer was reportedly rejected, with Brighton valuing the defender at around £70 million.
A reunion with De Zerbi is said to appeal to Van Hecke, potentially giving Spurs an advantage in the race for his signature.
Should Tottenham eventually complete a deal, it could increase speculation surrounding the future of Cristian Romero. Despite signing a new long-term contract last year, the Argentine captain continues to be linked with a summer exit.
If Romero departs, a defensive group featuring Van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso would provide De Zerbi with strong competition and quality depth at the heart of the defence.
This is a transfer story Spurs supporters will be watching closely in the coming weeks.
Leave a Reply