Thomas Frank needs attacking impetus at Tottenham Hotspur in January but the club could also swoop for a Premier League defender.
Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
Tottenham Hotspur have had to lean on the goalscoring exploits of defenders at times this season with an underperforming striker force and another Premier League defender who has been among the goals may have caught the attention of the London outfit.
Thomas Frank saw his side pick up a much needed point in a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on Tuesday evening. It was centre-back Cristian Romero who bagged a brace in that match and it wasn’t the first time a defender helped the team to points.
Micky Van de Ven has also come up with vital goals this term with six across all competitions this term. Those include a brace against Everton in October, as well as Champions League finishes against Bodo/Glimt and FC Copenhagen.
Tottenham Hotspur linked with £40m Brighton defender
While Tottenham Hotspur efforts in January are expected to be focused on adding creativity and a talisman, TEAMtalk today carries reports of interest in Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke. It’s touted that Spurs could bid £40 million for the 25-year-old.
The links come after the defender bagged a brace in the Seagulls’ 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday night. It’s added that Spurs explored a move for the Dutchman in the summer and that he remains a ‘player of interest’.
Brighton will not want to lose a player who has played every minute of the Premier League season so far and the south coast club are keen to extend the player’s deal, which currently expires in 2027. No extension could force Brighton to sell in 2026.
Seagulls hope for Van Hecke contract extension
The Seagulls paid just £3 million to sign the defender from Dutch side NAC Breda in 2020 and continue to merit their reputation for scouting the next wave of Premier League talent across the world. Speaking about the player and a potential new contract, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said: “Hopefully he has a long and bright future here in Brighton.
“When you see his past, where he has come from, what he went through to where he is now, you see a really consistent development. That’s because of his attitude. That’s because of his mindset. His effort is always above the things you can expect as a coach.
“That makes his values so important to us. He’s a Dutch guy, so he’s very straight with you and honest with his opinion. I think that’s always powerful in the team.
“He’s one of my leaders, he’s in the leadership group. He has taken more responsibility and more ownership this season. I think that’s the next step for him, to not only be a great performer, but also try to be a leader in this club.”
In other news, Tottenham 'intensify' interest in star winger as Premier League rivals circle for major January transfer.