Tottenham Hotspur’s summer rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi is gathering momentum, with multiple negotiations and potential deals progressing at the same time as the club aims to avoid another difficult campaign.
One of the key developments this week is Spurs’ renewed interest in Manchester City winger Savinho. Several reports suggest Tottenham are actively working to strike an agreement for the Brazilian, who has long been admired by De Zerbi.
According to earlier reports from Football Insider, Savinho is open to the idea of linking up with the Italian coach and would be keen on a move to north London if both clubs can agree on terms.
However, Savinho is not the only attacking option under consideration. Paul O’Keefe has reported that Fulham’s Harry Wilson and Union Saint-Gilloise forward Anan Khalaili are also being monitored as Tottenham assess reinforcements in wide positions.
At the same time, defensive strengthening remains a major priority, even with expected additions like Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.
This focus has brought Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke firmly into the spotlight. Reports from David Ornstein via The Athletic, later supported by The Telegraph and others, revealed that Tottenham have already had an initial bid rejected by Brighton.
The Seagulls are believed to value the Netherlands international well above Spurs’ opening offer, although discussions are still ongoing.
A new update from Dutch journalist Joost Blaauwhof has added further encouragement for Tottenham supporters.
Reporting for Voetbal International, Blaauwhof claims van Hecke is “close to reaching an agreement” on personal terms with Tottenham, with the former Blackburn Rovers loanee keen on reuniting with De Zerbi in London while club negotiations continue. He also suggested on X that a deal could potentially be completed before the World Cup, highlighting the rapid progress of talks.
Such a move would be a significant boost for De Zerbi, who previously worked with van Hecke at Brighton, where the defender became a key figure under his management. The pair are believed to still share a strong professional relationship.
The timing is also important, as van Hecke has entered the final year of his Brighton contract and has yet to agree an extension, despite ongoing discussions. That situation has naturally attracted attention from clubs including Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
Brighton, however, remain in a strong negotiating position and are reportedly holding out for around £70 million, reflecting the defender’s importance and current market value for top centre-backs.
Tottenham’s initial offer fell short of that figure, but the continued negotiations suggest neither side has closed the door on a deal. For Spurs, van Hecke represents an appealing option—still in his prime, experienced in the Premier League, internationally capped for the Netherlands, and already familiar with De Zerbi’s tactical system.
With talks also ongoing for Savinho and several other targets being tracked, Tottenham are shaping up for a busy transfer window. But among all the names linked so far, van Hecke may be the closest to becoming De Zerbi’s next major signing—depending on whether Spurs can finally bridge the gap with Brighton and reach an agreement.
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