Tottenham have seen their two bids for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke rejected.
Tottenham Hotspur only narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign. Roberto De Zerbi already made his demands to the board clear after guiding Spurs to safety.
It is early days yet, but the club bosses seem to have started the summer with real intent. Having already secured the signing of experienced left-back Andy Robertson, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed at the weekend that central defender Marcos Senesi’s deal is sealed, with all paperwork completed. It looks likely that Senesi will become Tottenham’s second signing of the summer transfer window.
The Hotspur Way chiefs have been focusing on addressing the glaring problems in defence, and after capturing Senesi’s signature, Spurs’ next targets are Savinho and Jan Paul van Hecke. As far as Jan Paul van Hecke is concerned, Tottenham have reportedly agreed personal terms with the Brighton and Hove Albion defender. The Netherlands international is believed to have made it clear to Brighton that he will not sign a new contract and only wants to join the Lilywhites.
Ex-scout thinks Jan Paul van Hecke will be Cristian Romero’s replacement at Tottenham
De Zerbi wants to reunite with Jan Paul van Hecke, whom he coached at Brighton from 2022 to 2024. He knows the player’s qualities in and out of possession and feels the Dutchman would solidify the North London club’s backline.
Now, ex-scout Mick Brown believes Van Hecke will be a direct replacement for their €45m skipper Cristian Romero, who has been heavily linked with an exit from White Hart Lane. The Argentina international endured a mixed campaign, and following his questionable attitude on and off the pitch, he is likely to leave the club this summer.
“There are doubts about Romero, they expect him to move on,” Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider.
“Everybody always says what a good player he is when he’s available, but it’s his attitude and application which have always been the big problem with him.
“Van Hecke is somebody they’ve admired for a while, and I’ve always liked the look of him at Brighton, I think he’s really stepped up in recent years. Tottenham feel the time has come for Romero to move on, but of course, he will need replacing because he’s still been a regular player for them.
“Van Hecke would tick a lot of boxes in that regard, he could come into the side to replace him with his height and physicality, and he’s not bad with the ball at his feet. There are a lot of positives to the idea that he could replace Romero, and it will be a step in the right direction for De Zerbi getting his ideas across as well.”
Tottenham have seen two bids for Van Hecke rejected
Spurs scouts have been keeping close tabs on Van Hecke’s progress at Brighton for well over a year. With De Zerbi now at the helm, the Lilywhites have a head coach who can maximise the Dutch star’s potential and help him take his game to the next level. Having worked well together at Brighton, the 26-year-old will be able to quickly adapt to his playing style and hit the ground running in N17.