Tottenham bid for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke

Tottenham have submitted an opening bid for Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, though the offer falls short of the club's £70m valuation. Talks remain ongoing as manager Roberto De Zerbi pushes to bring in a defender he worked with during his time on the south coast between 2022 and 2024.

Van Hecke, 25, is contracted to Brighton until June 2027 but has yet to agree a new deal, leaving his future uncertain. Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler indicated in April that he expected to hold discussions with the player, but those talks have not produced a fresh agreement.

The defender heads into the summer as a World Cup selection for the Netherlands, having played 87 minutes in a recent friendly against Algeria and staying in Ronald Koeman's defensive plans. Since joining from NAC Breda in 2020, loan spells at Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers helped his development before he became a regular starter at Brighton, starting 36 Premier League matches last season under Hurzeler.

Netherlands

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