Tottenham Hotspur have gone into the summer transfer window with one thing on their mind: improving their defensive backline. This goal comes after the Lilywhites struggled in the Premier League, narrowly avoiding relegation to the Championship, while allowing the fourth most goals in the English top flight.
It would appear that the North London club has been making significant headway on their defensive improvements, with the recent signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, both of whom have left their previous clubs for Tottenham on a free transfer. While Spurs have also been tied to Dinamo Zagreb’s Sergi Dominguez in recent weeks, they’ve been showing interest in a defender from the south coast, Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.
Tottenham’s negotiations fall flat with Brighton
It was reported earlier in the week that the Lilywhites were keen on bringing in the Dutchman, as he had previously worked under Roberto De Zerbi during his time at the American Express Stadium, but there hadn’t been any moves made.
That has since changed, as according to talkSPORTS’ Anton Stanley, Spurs have sent over two offers to the Seagulls, but both have been rejected.
“Yes, we have rejected a bid from Tottenham over the last week or so, in fact, two bids,” Paul Barber, Brighton’s chief executive, told talkSPORT.
It appears that while the Seagulls are playing tough to get for their star defender, they’re only doing it as they need things to be right for both the organization and the player.
"From that point of view, it has to be right for us as well as the player,“ stated Barber.
All of this interest comes after a season in which van Hecke was the defensive anchor in Brighton’s backline, recording 46 interceptions and winning 32 tackles.
While in the initial report on Tottenham’s interest in the Dutchman, it was also stated that they had an interest in Brighton’s goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen, it doesn’t appear that there are any updates on that front from talkSPORT’s interactions with Barber.
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