Football London

The former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back has been speaking to football.london about what is going on at the north London club this summer

If anyone knows a top centre-back or a star defender in the making, it's Toby Alderweireld.

During his career the polished Belgian won six league titles across three different countries, played at three World Cups, two European Championships, appeared in two Champions League finals and turned out 236 times in a Tottenham shirt. So when you want to know about Spurs centre-backs of the present and future, the 37-year-old from the recent past is the man you go to.

The Lilywhites' defence is set to undergo some major surgery this summer for new head coach Roberto De Zerbi. On Friday Spurs announced the free transfer of left-back Andy Robertson and Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi is expected to follow him through the door in north London.

Tottenham have also been in talks to sign another central defender in Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke. Senesi recently won the Cherries' player of the season award while Van Hecke earned that prize with the Seagulls at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

"They both know the Premier League. That's good, because I think Spurs now need stability," Alderweireld said in part one of his interview with football.london. "They need to know the players can perform every week, week in, week out. They perform on a good level. Of course, a transfer to a new club, it's always a bit different, but they know the Premier League and that's very important.

"Because next season, it's impossible that we go back to this [awful] period. So I think it's understanding they are looking for players who are proven in the Premier League. That's something they should do. They should have a little bit more security in that.

"I want players that the desire is there to improve. The best example is PSG. They had the biggest players. They won the French league, but never in the Champions League. They went back, sold their best players and went with people that have a fire in them.

"I can only speak from my own experience. We had people that wanted to improve - Harry Kane, Sonny, Eric Dier, Wanyama. There were players that want to improve and put the team as number one."

He added: "So you might say 'Spurs need to become better so we need to pay for big players'. We don't need big players. We need players with big hearts who can improve and that's something I really want to see. The team, the club, comes number one and that's very important.

"I think with, for example, those two (Senesi and Van Hecke), they're on the right direction to do the good transfers. To buy some players with a lot of potential from abroad, they need time and we don't have the time now. We need to be there very quick to be ready and to get directly into the new season with points.

"Directly is not top three again. I understand that's not easy, but it's not like two points or something from [the first] five games. Then you get in the same thing as last season."

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The knock-on effect of Spurs potentially signing both Senesi and Van Hecke is that there would be no room for the club's rising star Luka Vuskovic. The 19-year-old centre-back is yet to play a competitive game for Tottenham but has had a season to remember on loan at Hamburg where he was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

The Croatian teenager, who will play at the World Cup this summer, has clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich circling him and his value has shot up to become a £50million or £60million player, depending on who you ask.

Alderweireld came up against Vuskovic before he hung up his boots in Antwerp and he believes a certain former Spurs manager would have given the youngster a chance.

"I played against him in Belgium. He played for Westerlo. He was, of course, a very good defender. He was very aggressive in the opposite box with corners. So he's got a good header and he has a nose for goals," said the Belgian. "Is he ready? I think if you have a manager like Pochettino, for example, he gives players a chance. It's possible.

"But then you need someone next to him. For example, I was at Antwerp and I played with Willian Pacho. Before I was there, he didn't play one minute, but then I played with him and now he has won the Champions League two times. Not because of me, but I mean, you need someone who's there and he can count on, because if you put all the pressure on him, it's going to be difficult.

"But if you're someone who's a leader, a leader not only with talking, then why not? Why not give him a chance? He proved in Belgium he was good. In the Bundesliga, he was good."

On the alternative of sending the young defender out again, Alderweireld said: "You can loan him again. He's very young, so he has time, but the thing is, you have to have someone next to him who is there all the time and not this guy and this guy.

"He needs to be together [with a regular partner] because he has to improve, he has to improve by himself, but as well, you're a team. At centre-back, I think Jan [Vertonghen] and me are the best example. We were one team and that's very important.

"Even, maybe I don't want to talk about it, but the quality of Arsenal at centre-back. Those two, they play together all the time, and they play good together. They know he's doing this and he's doing that. That's the quality of him and the quality of him and they play together.

"That's something, at Spurs, we need to get as quickly as possible to get a good partnership as centre-backs."

Tottenham's current leader at the back is Cristian Romero but the Argentine has been tipped to depart this summer after the World Cup. De Zerbi was unable to confirm at the end of the season that the club's captain would be part of his plans for the future.

Alderweireld knows what is required in the Tottenham defence, as part of the backline under Mauricio Pochettino that conceded fewer goals than any other Premier League clubs for a couple of seasons in a row. In Romero, he sees a world class defender on his day but one who he believes is not always there in the difficult moments because of his decision-making.

"He's an unbelievable player. Very aggressive. When he's on his level he can beat any striker," said the Belgian. "But on the other hand, as a centre-back, you need to see not only yourself, but you need to help the team, you know? And some moments with the red cards, moments that he's injured - injury is not always, of course, your own fault - but especially the red cards and moments.

"The moment at Old Trafford, 29 minutes in and you get a red card, this is not possible, you understand? There's a red card, if he's the last man and he wants to try to tackle ok, but with a 50-50 challenge, then I think 'wow, you don't help the team in the situation they're in' and then I get a little bit of my doubts.

"Because if he can get all that anger sometimes in the right moments with his head, I think he's one of the best centre-backs in the world. But sometimes those things, it doesn't help the team. Especially in difficult moments, real leaders, they get to the level of thinking 'now we're going to help the team'.

"And sometimes we missed him. That says a lot, because he's an unbelievable player, that's why we miss him. But he wasn't always there when the club needed him."

Thomas Frank has opened up on his Tottenham exit and made a decision on his next job amid rumours linking him with a return to a Premier League club this summer

Former Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has confirmed he will not return to management this summer - and has a new job lined up in the meantime.

Frank was sacked by Spurs back in mid-February, despite only being appointed last June. The Dane, who previously spent five years at Brentford, has been linked with a number of jobs since leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He has been placed on Crystal Palace's shortlist to replace Oliver Glasner and has been tipped to succeed Marco Silva at Fulham. But now, Frank has revealed he won't be stepping back into the dugout before the start of next season, instead taking a break, spending time with family and friends, as well as working at the World Cup.

Frank will be working for the BBC during the tournament and will also appear on television in his native Denmark.

"I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has reached out over the past few months," Frank said in a statement released on Friday afternoon. "Your support and encouragement have been greatly appreciated.

"Leaving Tottenham has given me the chance to step back and reflect on my journey so far. Football management is a profession that demands complete commitment every single day, and periods like this are a rare opportunity to assess, learn and gain a fresh perspective.

"From the outside, it may have looked like a time of many challenges at Tottenham when results were not what we wanted. From within, however, it becomes clear why the club is so special - full of talented people who work tirelessly every day. I have no doubt Tottenham has a bright future.

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"Football remains a huge part of who I am, and I have chosen to use this time productively. Over the coming months, besides spending time with family and friends, I will continue studying, observing and learning from other leaders both within sport and beyond it.

"I am also looking forward to covering the World Cup for Danish television and the BBC, as well as experiencing the Tour de France. Time away from the touchline is allowing me to broaden my perspective and gather insights that I look forward to bringing into my next challenge.

"There have been conversations and opportunities since leaving Spurs, but I have decided not to rush into the next role. For me, this summer is not the right time to go back into management.

"When the time is right, I will look forward to my return as a manager, ready to embrace the job with great energy and dedication."

The former Tottenham Hotspur head coach has released a statement on his time at the club and playing down any links this summer

Thomas Frank has made it clear that he will not be returning to football management this summer and has spoken about his time at Tottenham in a new statement.

The Dane replaced Ange Postecoglou last summer but with positive Premier League results hard to come by and a broken relationship with the Spurs fans, the 52-year-old was sacked by the north London club in February. His successor Igor Tudor also parted ways with the club less than two months later after a winless spell in the league and Roberto De Zerbi came in and saved Tottenham from relegation on the final day of the season.

Now four months after leaving the club and amid recent links to both the managerial posts at Fulham and previously Crystal Palace, Frank has spoken for the first time as he has released a statement through the League Managers' Association.

"I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has reached out over the past few months. Your support and encouragement have been greatly appreciated," it read.

"Leaving Tottenham has given me the chance to step back and reflect on my journey so far. Football management is a profession that demands complete commitment every single day, and periods like this are a rare opportunity to assess, learn and gain a fresh perspective.

"From the outside, it may have looked like a time of many challenges at Tottenham when results were not what we wanted. From within, however, it becomes clear why the club is so special - full of talented people who work tirelessly every day. I have no doubt Tottenham has a bright future.

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"Football remains a huge part of who I am, and I have chosen to use this time productively. Over the coming months, besides spending time with family and friends, I will continue studying, observing and learning from other leaders both within sport and beyond it.

"I am also looking forward to covering the World Cup for Danish television and the BBC, as well as experiencing the Tour de France. Time away from the touchline is allowing me to broaden my perspective and gather insights that I look forward to bringing into my next challenge.

"There have been conversations and opportunities since leaving Spurs, but I have decided not to rush into the next role. For me, this summer is not the right time to go back into management.

"When the time is right, I will look forward to my return as a manager, ready to embrace the job with great energy and dedication."

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to hit the summer transfer window hard and they have done so by already wrapping up one key transfer for Roberto De Zerbi

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the signing of Liverpool defender Andy Robertson. The experienced left-back is currently in North America preparing for the World Cup with Scotland.

The competition in the USA, Mexico and Canada has not prevented the north Londoners from officially confirming him as a Tottenham player. Roberto De Zerbi described the Scot as "someone I've admired for a number of years" as part of the club's announcement.

Robertson, 32, brings trophy winning mentality and pedigree, having won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the Club World Cup while at Anfield. He also arrives as a free agent, having departed the Merseysiders at the end of his contract.

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In the announcement, De Zerbi said: "Andy is someone I've admired for a number of years and he will bring outstanding technical qualities, experience, leadership and mentality to our team.

"He is a proven winner at the highest level over a long period and is someone who can be a big player for us, both on and off the pitch. I can't wait to start working with him and seeing the positive impact he will have on everyone around him."

Sporting director Johan Lange also added: "We are delighted to welcome Andy to the club. First and foremost, he is an outstanding left-back - one of the best of all time in the Premier League, and someone who will improve our squad.

"In addition, his quality, character and leadership have been evident throughout a career in which he has regularly competed for - and won - major honours. Andy's professionalism and commitment will also be invaluable to the development of our squad.

"He shares our ambition and determination to bring success back to the Club. We are excited for Andy's new chapter with us and look forward to having him here after the World Cup."

Interestingly, Tottenham are yet to confirm what shirt number the Scot will wear in north London. As part of his video, which also featured an appearance from ex-Spurs skipper Michael Dawson, Robertson's shirt was unveiled, without a number.

Either way, he will jostle for a place with the likes of Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence. He will officially link up with the club on July 1, one day after his Liverpool deal expires.

Last season, Robertson made 24 Premier League appearances, scoring one goal. Ahead of his move, Robertson also uploaded a social media video, where he said: "Hi Tottenham fans, it's me, Andy Robertson here. As you can see, I'm not in Glasgow, I'm in America, just preparing for the World Cup.

"I just wanted to send you a quick message to say I cannot wait to play for you guys. I cannot wait to play in the stadium for the first time in front of you. I'm already looking forward to next season. All the best and I'll see you soon."

It has been claimed that the former Tottenham Hotspur chairman has signed an agreement to sell his stake in the club's owners

Eight Sports Capital Limited have claimed that Daniel Levy has agreed to sell a large portion of his stake in ENIC, the company that owns Tottenham Hotspur, to them.

Levy was chairman of Spurs for 24 years before being ousted in September last year by the Lewis family, who own the majority of ENIC. The investment company purchased a controlling stake in the Premier League club in 2001 from Sir Alan Sugar and at that point Levy became chairman.

However after last year's exit for the long serving club head, the current generation of the Lewis family have become more prominent in backing the Lilywhites with CEO Vinai Venkatesham and non-executive chairman Peter Charrington running things.

Then on Friday, British Virgin Islands-based company Eight Sports Capital released a statement to the media, including football.london, claiming that they will own a portion of ENIC and therefore Tottenham Hotspur once an agreed and legally binding sale and purchase agreement with Levy is formally consumated.

Eight Sports Capital is spearheaded by two leading forces involved in two of the three rejected Spurs takeover bids last year. One is Wing-Fai Ng, the CEO of American entertainment company Triller, which owns Eight Sports. The other is tech entrepreneur Brooklyn Earick, who is the CEO of Eight Sports.

There is a third new person involved and that is Taiwanese billionaire Richard Tsai, who also owns Triller as well as Fubon Financial Holding Company, one of the largest financial conglomerates in Asia.

The move from Eight Sports Capital, which is yet to be officially confirmed, is said to be for 24.99% of ENIC. The former chairman, through a family trust, owns 29.8% of the share capital of ENIC. Any such sale would mean the newcomers owning a stake in Spurs but without any decision-making powers or a seat on the board of ENIC. The Lewis family have repeatedly stated that they have no interest in selling the Premier League club.

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The statement read: "Eight Sports Capital Limited today announces the signing of a sale and purchase agreement to acquire a 24.99% interest in ENIC Sports and Developments Holdings Limited (“ENIC”), the parent company of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

"The transaction is structured through the acquisition from Oakchester Limited of the entire issued share capital of Walburg Holdings Limited and Larkin Ltd pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement. The target companies together beneficially hold 24.99% of the issued ordinary share capital of ENIC. Oakchester Limited is owned by Whitmill Trust Company (Gibraltar) Limited, acting as trustee of The Levy Children’s Trust and The Walburg Discretionary Trust, which are family trusts established for the benefit of Daniel Levy’s children."

A spokesperson for Eight Sports Capital Limited added: "We are delighted to have signed this agreement to acquire a significant stake in ENIC. We look forward to working with the club’s shareholders, management, staff, players and fans to support Tottenham Hotspur’s continued growth and success."

The statement continued that "the parties have agreed that no further public comment will be made regarding the commercial terms of the transaction".

Tottenham are set to strengthen Roberto De Zerbi's central defensive options but that could have a knock-on effect for the current crop at the back

Roberto De Zerbi looks set to get new defensive recruits with Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke linked to Tottenham but that will mean exits from his current group of centre-backs.

Spurs are expected to seal a free transfer for Bournemouth's player of the season Senesi as the 29-year-old Argentine's contract heads towards its conclusion this month. The north London club are also currently in talks with Brighton over the Seagulls 2024/25 player of the season Van Hecke after having a bid rejected for the centre-back, who turns 26 on Monday.

Handing De Zerbi both of those players would certainly bolster a defence that has conceded 183 goals in the Premier League in the past three seasons. However, it would also have a knock-on effect because the Italian would be left with far too many centre-backs for a season ahead that will not contain the extra fixtures and minutes that European football brings.

With that in mind, football.london is continuing our keep, loan or sell series with a look at Spurs' eight current senior centre-backs, starting with the club captain.

Cristian Romero

Cristian Romero's future looks increasingly like it's not going to be at Spurs next season once the World Cup is done, despite the Argentine only signing a new contract last summer.

De Zerbi was unable to confirm whether the club captain would be sticking around beyond this summer and with Tottenham looking for maximum value for those players who either do not want to be at the club or are not part of the plans, this could be the best chance to get a good fee for the 28-year-old.

That of course depends though on what clubs are willing to pay for Romero. On his day, he's a top drawer defender and a good World Cup with Messi & Co will only push his name further up the wishlists of Europe's big clubs.

In an ideal word De Zerbi would want to keep Romero, who contributed 10 goal involvements last season, but after two seasons in which the Argentine has played 18 and then 23 Premier League matches due to injury or suspension, the Italian and Spurs might feel the money can be better used elsewhere.

Verdict: Sell if a major bid arrives

Micky van de Ven

Micky van de Ven looks set to be a big part of De Zerbi's team after the head coach called the Dutchman the best left-sided centre-back in the Premier League.

After the previous season's injury problems, Van de Ven played more minutes (3,943) than any other outfield Spurs player in the 25/26 campaign, with 45 appearances and 18 of those as captain in the absence of Romero. The Netherlands international also added goals to his game - seven of them - to eventually become Tottenham's joint second top scorer of the season.

Verdict: Keep

Kevin Danso

Kevin Danso became an important part of the defence that ended up keeping Tottenham in the Premier League as he filled in admirably for the injured Romero.

De Zerbi admitted to football.london that the 27-year-old is still getting to grips with his required quick passing style but made it clear that "he will be here next season" after praising the rest of the Austria international's qualities.

Another who will play at this summer's World Cup, Danso offers solid defensive cover and will give his all whenever called upon.

Verdict: Keep

Radu Dragusin

Radu Dragusin is another centre-back who is expected to depart this summer, with the move for Van Hecke signalling that he would move even further down the pecking order.

There are plenty of clubs in Serie A looking to take the Romanian back to Italy, and with an agent who might as well hold a press conference each week with the amount he speaks to the media, the world will soon know about any interest that becomes something more serious.

Dragusin is a good defender who was knocked back by that ACL injury-enforced absence and he needs to get his career back up and running again with regular starts.

Verdict: Sell

Luka Vuskovic

Luka Vuskovic 's time at Hamburg saw him named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season despite the 19-year-old being in the backline of a club battling against relegation.

The centre-back has got the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich and many more watching him closely as he prepares to head off to the World Cup with Croatia.

Even though he is just a teenager, Vuskovic played 30 matches for HSV and scored six goals, some of them spectacular, while providing one assist. The only concern about his Premier League readiness is his lack of acceleration but Vuskovic has been working on that with a Croatian decathlete this season.

He's now valued as a £50million-plus player and De Zerbi faces a big decision. He must decide whether to continue with the longer road for him, as Arsenal did with William Saliba's three loans after they beat their north London rivals to sign the Frenchman in 2019, or bring Vuskovic back now.

Those in the game say Vuskovic has a far higher ceiling than Van Hecke, but the problem is ensuring the teenager, who has a contract until 2030, gets the minutes he requires for his continued rapid development in a season in which Spurs do not have European football and therefore far fewer games in the schedule.

Verdict: Should be keep but will probably be loan

Kota Takai

Kota Takai had a far less impressive time in the Bundesliga than Vuskovic and his whole experience since coming over from Japan has been a mess.

The 21-year-old suffered a foot injury soon after arriving at Spurs last summer and when he returned to fitness months later, he was sent out on loan to Borussia Monchengladbach. Unfortunately Takai struggled for game time and then picked up a muscle strain which meant he made just three starts for the German side with four minutes of football from the end of February onwards.

The Japan international is miles off playing Premier League football at the moment and with a contract until 2030 the club need to get him out on loan again to help him develop.

Verdict: Loan

Ashley Phillips

Ashley Phillips is the forgotten Tottenham centre-back despite continually impressing out on loan.

In his second season with Stoke, the 20-year-old made it on to the shortlist for the Championship's Young Player of the Season award and played more minutes in the league than any other player aged 20 or under this season.

However, it feels like with the queue of centre-backs ahead of him and more arriving this summer, he may never play a competitive game in a Spurs shirt.

You have to feel for the talented young defender but there will be no shortage of takers for him. De Zerbi might take a look at him in pre-season this summer but the new arrivals being sought do not bode well for his chances of staying.

Verdict: Sell to let him move on and enjoy his career

Alfie Dorrington

Alfie Dorrington made his Premier League debut for Spurs in the 2024/25 season and then enjoyed a Scottish FA Cup-winning loan at Aberdeen.

This season though saw the 21-year-old return to the Scottish club but a groin injury hampered his time there and he then made a winter window switch to League Two side Salford City and helped them reach the play-off final where they lost to Notts County.

Dorrington has a contract until 2029 so another loan move appears to beckon unless a good permanent offer comes in for the defender and he can start to settle at a club rather than continue to be one of Tottenham's nomadic tribe of loan players.

How Roberto De Zerbi's revamped Spurs midfield could shape up next season

It's fair to say Tottenham need reinforcements across the pitch following a dreadful campaign.

After having three managers, Spurs clung onto their Premier League place with a final-day victory over Everton, as West Ham dropped into the Championship instead. Before Roberto De Zerbi's appointment, it was Tottenham who appeared more vulnerable to relegation into the second tier, an unimaginable scenario for a club still regarded by some as part of English football's so-called 'big six'.

Following the trauma of the season, Spurs supporters won't be getting ahead of themselves. Nevertheless, a sense of optimism has emerged amid belief in De Zerbi and his approach. That enthusiasm would grow if the club could enjoy a productive summer.

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The midfield requires attention, with additional quality and greater depth needed to handle the demands of a gruelling season. A couple of holding midfielders would be welcome acquisitions.

Youngster Archie Gray matches the profile but remains a work in progress and requires the backing of a seasoned partner, either next to him or to deputise at times. De Zerbi had Alexis Mac Allister and Pascal Gross at Brighton and Adrien Rabiot at Marseille before he departed for AC Milan last season.

A potential swoop for World Cup winner Mac Allister shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. The Argentine has been linked with Real Madrid, though his father, who is also his agent, has firmly denied any contact.

Having cost Liverpool £35million, Mac Allister endured a frustrating campaign at Anfield and could be prised away for the right fee, with the Reds needing to shake things up following a woeful title defence. The anticipated arrival of Andy Robertson, his former Anfield colleague, could prove a helpful factor.

Highly-regarded Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, who has attracted attention from numerous Premier League sides, would represent an excellent acquisition. Manchester City's £50million man Nico Gonzalez also looks likely to become available, particularly if Elliot Anderson completes a move from Nottingham Forest.

Returning to another player De Zerbi has previously managed, Carlos Baleba could be on Spurs' radar following Manchester United's cooling interest in the Cameroonian. He would bring some much-needed steel and physicality to the engine room.

Provided De Zerbi maintains his favoured 4-2-3-1 system, two of Mac Allister, Gonzalez and Baleba could operate in support of number 10 James Maddison, who will be desperate to atone for his injury-marred campaign. Such a midfield combination would only serve to boost supporters' growing optimism.

One of the Tottenham head coach's former players has been speaking about the changes to come under the Italian at the north London club

There will be a "massive change" at Tottenham under Roberto De Zerbi because the club must trust him like Arsenal did with Mikel Arteta, believes Sandro, who played for both the Italian and Spurs.

De Zerbi has already made a big splash at the north London side after being parachuted in late in the season and leading the club to 11 points from their final six matches to keep them in the Premier League at the expense of West Ham. That saved Tottenham's dignity and around £250million in potential lost revenue which means the 46-year-old will have a big say in how the club moves forward into a new era under him.

Former Tottenham midfielder Sandro, who played under De Zerbi at Italian side Benevento, believes that after having four head coaches at the helm within a year, his club must trust their new one in the same way as the Premier League champions did to success down the road.

"It will be a massive change, because now we have the idea of the philosophy. Football has changed, because people just want to be successful, but Tottenham, we have always played attacking football and we need to have someone that has the same idea and philosophy.

"Of course you’re playing in the Premier League, it's not just attack, attack and you have to be clever, you need to control the game. Guardiola for example, you can’t be more attacking than Guardiola, it's impossible, but it's very clever. We need to be balanced, attacking and direct, but be ready when we need to defend, and be ready to drop everybody back and really defend," said Sandro, speaking exclusively to Reach PLC ahead of the World Cup thanks to betFIRST sport.

The Brazilian added: "In the beginning of Arteta managing Arsenal, everybody was criticising him saying, ‘Arteta should leave, Arteta should leave', but Edu kept him. And Edu said he needed to buy the players that Arteta needed, that the players that were in the squad were not for Arteta’s style, so he would give him more time, give him more years, give him the players he needs for his style of football; and look at the transition that Arsenal have done.

"Just look at Arsenal now! It's just football, it's not like you can click and everything will happen. No. You have to have the right idea, the first thing is to have the right idea, with the right manager for the team, and then give him the players he needs. And Arsenal did that.

"But I'm telling you now, Tottenham are going to be a success in two to three years' time. We are going to be a success."

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Sandro, who did some coaching work experience under De Zerbi at Brighton, believes that Spurs need attacking additions in the summer transfer window and is happy with the links to his compatriot Manchester City winger Savinho. At the same time he believes another Brazilian and an Argentinean could depart from N17 in the coming months.

"For two seasons we have struggled, but now I'm very confident that De Zerbi will help Spurs, will build the club again and I think he will find the right players because he's so passionate and he already knows what he's going to do," said the 37-year-old.

"We need to strengthen the attack, with wingers and a striker, because players will probably leave, like Richarlison probably will leave. Players that we need, I heard a lot about Savinho coming in as a winger, and we need to focus on these places and that kind of player. Defenders, I don't know but Romero will probably leave as well, and we need to strengthen that central defence zone as well."

On Richarlison leaving, he went on: "Richarlison is the reason Tottenham stayed in the league, but I don't know because it's his contract that only has one year left. But if he leaves, we need one more striker and I'm not sure who, but we need to look at the market very closely because you know how business is. If you get business done early, you can do better business.

"We should get players in our mind and we should sign them before the media realise what's happening and it’s done. The Eze situation [last summer] is for us to learn from."

Sandro pointed to another Brazilian as the type of attacking player that Tottenham should have gone for in the past.

"From before, the striker from Real Madrid, that was in Lyon in France, Endrick. That kind of striker, we need an absolute top, top striker, you know, but in Brazil, I don’t think we don't have any up and coming strikers like he was a few years ago," said the former QPR man.

"But we need to find a striker who can be at that level. A loan move could potentially be good, but it depends on the World Cup, his value could go way up. But he's one of the guys that we needed, you know? We needed someone like him."

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to reunite their head coach with one of his key players from his final season at Brighton & Hove Albion

Tottenham are in talks with Brighton after having had a bid rejected for Jan Paul van Hecke and the centre-back is a player Roberto De Zerbi has had plenty to say about.

Van Hecke, who turns 26 this Monday, became a key player for De Zerbi in his backline in his final season at Brighton as the Dutchman became a mainstay of that Seagulls team alongside captain Lewis Dunk. It took some time for him to get to that point though, with loans during Graham Potter's tenure on the south coast to Heerenveen back home in the Netherlands and then Blackburn Rovers.

De Zerbi kept Van Hecke around though when he arrived and after frequently challenging him during his first campaign at the club it was in his second season that the centre-back blossomed and became the Premier League player he is today.

When De Zerbi left Brighton at the end of that campaign, Van Hecke wrote on social media: "Gaffer thank you very much! You changed my life! I’m really thankful for what you did for me. I’m really upset you are leaving."

But what have De Zerbi and others said about the Dutch centre-back, who has 12 months left on his contract with the Seagulls, and his ability and journey in the game? Here are just some of the things said about the Tottenham transfer target and you'll find one word in particular used a lot by the Italian.

De Zerbi on Van Hecke in September 2023

"Incredible. His performance was fantastic. I haven't got words to explain his improvement. He’s a serious player, a serious guy. I’m very, very pleased.

"“He has a big personality, big courage, great attitude and he deserves to play."

De Zerbi on Van Hecke surprising him ahead of facing Ajax in November 2023

"He's a great player. He has been a surprise for me and maybe also the club. His improvement is incredible and I hope he plays the same way in Amsterdam the same way he does in England."

Van Hecke's response

"My game has progressed a lot, from day one to now is incredible. Credit to the gaffer for making me a better player and I think myself for working hard to improve. I’m really happy and I love the way we play.

De Zerbi in December 2023 after Van Hecke signed his last contract

"I think the most important quality of JP is the balance between the arrogance and the confidence in himself. He is not arrogant but his confidence in himself is high, high, high.

“It is his secret to keep this level because he has an incredible personality, shows incredible leadership and he is so young. It's not common to see one young player with that level of personality."

He added on their early struggles: "Last season we fought... but we fought in a good way. We spoke a lot together. I am very proud of JP, and Billy [Gilmour]. They are both great guys and deserve to play in this level now. Their improvement has been fantastic.

"For young players, I think Brighton is one of the best teams to progress at, to play and improve. If they have the ambitions to reach the highest level, there are not many places better to be at than Brighton."

De Zerbi after Van Hecke starred against West Ham in January 2024

"He is improving in an incredible way. He’s older than his age. His level is high, higher than people think."

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Lewis Dunk on Van Hecke in January 2024

"Jan Paul's reaction to the own goal sums him up as a person. He will give you everything he’s got. His is the biggest improvement I have seen in a player since the manager arrived. I love it. It was a great assist after the own goal and I was buzzing for him."

Pep Guardiola on what he told Van Hecke in confrontation after the final whistle in November 2024

"That he [Van Hecke] was strong with Erling [Haaland] and when Erling then stands up, you have to stand up, he cannot go to the grass. Stay strong, no? You pull him all the game then after the fight you stay there. But he played a really good game and congratulations to Brighton."

Pierre van Hooijdonk, now an analyst on NOS television, on Ven Hecke's Netherlands debut

"He is the best of them all in passing. That says something. And covering, that is Van Hecke through and through.

“He is really crazy, positively crazy. You have to be that as a defender."

Bart Verbruggen on Van Hecke and his shared NAC Breda history

"He played one age group above me for Breda, and he went into the first team a bit quicker than I did. But I just remember when training sometimes with his age group that they had a very good team at the time, a very strong team. You could always see Jan Paul’s quality in possession. Obviously, he got a lot better, even though he was already good!

"Most people might not know this, but he used to take penalties at NAC. I remember him scoring some penalties in front of the NAC ultras – the celebrations were always nice! Their fans are really lively and obsessed with the club and the game. I remember him scoring some penalties and then celebrating with them.”

"I wasn’t shocked by Jan Paul getting the move to Brighton. He went on loan straight after – I think it’s one of the pathways you see more often now as well as here at Brighton, signing for a big team and then going out on loan. I’ve always been a fan of him as a player and as a person. I wasn’t surprised when he left, I could understand what a big team would see in him.

"If you see how his career worked out, I think all credit to him. He has taken the right steps at the right time and always had the right attitude and the right mentality. If you have those things, then the quality will take care of itself, but I think he maybe even surprised some people with how well he is doing now.

"It’s the same for JP – obviously when he was playing, everybody could see his quality, but I think to see how good he is now, maybe some people wouldn’t have expected it at the time because they didn’t really see him as someone destined for the top.

“It's really hard in any sport to be as consistent as he is. That’s one of his big qualities, but it could also be his ability on the ball, his quality in defence, his mental strength. There’s so many qualities about him that the national team coach would love about him. But the competition is high and the fact that he’s playing is a very, very big compliment to him.

"I think everybody can see how good of a player JP is, but what people maybe don’t always see because they don’t know him is how good a person he is. He really helped me a lot when I joined, in terms of showing me the way around Brighton, even teaching me about the culture at the training ground.

“I'm really grateful for how he and Joel (Veltman) helped when I first joined. We became really close. We are good friends. His wife and my girlfriend get along really well, and it’s just nice to have all the Dutch players here as we all get along really well. JP is definitely a big, big part of the great atmosphere in the squad we have."

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman on starting Van Hecke

"Why did I choose Van Hecke? Well, you generally assume that Hungary will do the same as in the previous game," Koeman said.

"They will drop far back and keep the spaces small. That is why it is important to have a good build-up of reverse, and Van Hecke's very good at that.

"Of course it also has to do with how he plays at his club. If you have many good central defenders, you can also do something else to decide on details.

Fabian Hurzeler on Van Hecke's leadership

"I think every team needs leaders, someone with a voice in the dressing room. Jan Paul is a player who takes responsibility and naturally embraces that leadership role. He’s a player that others look up to, and that’s not just because of his performances on the pitch, but also the way he conducts himself off it.

"He has made incredible progress not just as a player, which is evident, but also as a person. He is increasingly aware of his role in the dressing room, speaking with many teammates, helping them, and pushing the team to give everything in every match. That’s what makes him special. He doesn’t just lead by example with his performances, but he actively engages with the squad to create a winning mentality.

"I’m very happy that he does things like this [dressing room speech]. He is great at using the right words to inspire his teammates. It’s not easy to find players who have that natural leadership ability, but Jan Paul has it. He keeps our team sharp, motivated, and even at halftime, he delivers the right analysis. Thanks to him, Brighton is constantly reminded of the things that need to be done right."

Hurzeler on Van Hecke deserving a new contract

"Of course, great players with great personalities are always welcomed at this club," said Hurzeler when asked about Van Hecke's contract situation ahead of the Manchester United clash.

"I think a prime example is Lewis. Players who are here for a long time who have built a legacy. I am sure Jan Paul van Hecke can be one of them. But the main thing is that we try to make sure that he can perform like he performed the last games for us, that the focus is here, the present.

"Don't try to focus on the future. Try to focus on the things he can influence now and his performances, his development regarding his role as a leader.

"I'm always pleased when I can work with great players, great people, and hopefully he has a long and bright future here in Brighton."

Sandro on why Spurs must sign Van Hecke

"They are talking about Marcos Senesi, at Bournemouth, but I really like the defender from Brighton, Van Hecke. I really like him. He's good on the ball, he played with De Zerbi before too. He's not only good on the ball, but he can be very aggressive and in a way that he’s not stupid, he's not doing crazy things without the ball, but I think he's mature," said Sandro, speaking exclusively to Reach PLC ahead of the World Cup thanks to betFIRST sport.

"For me, Van Hecke is ready. He's ready to play because he played under De Zerbi and he showed that he can play in the moment, that he's mature, and we need players that are already mature. I think we are now going to the market and have to buy players that are ready."

Tottenham are looking to rebuild their defence with Premier League proven players this summer and Roberto De Zerbi is glancing at his old club

Tottenham are looking to give Roberto De Zerbi want he wants this summer and that means trying to sign Jan Paul van Hecke, who once claimed the Italian changed his life.

De Zerbi's stock could not be higher at Spurs after saving them from relegation, having arrived in the final weeks of the season and led them to 11 points from their final six matches. In doing so he saved the north London club around £250million in lost revenue that the drop down to the Championship would have brought and earned plenty of gratitude in the process.

That will spill into this transfer window with Tottenham keen to fix football matters on the pitch, with the owners and those running the club making it clear publicly that too much focus had been on off the pitch matters in recent years. The Lewis family, who own Spurs, have pledged further funds to push through the required changes this summer.

One of the areas of priority for De Zerbi is reinforcing a leaky defence that has conceded 183 goals in the Premier League in the past three seasons alone.

Barring any late disasters, free transfers for left-back Andy Robertson and left-sided centre-back Marcos Senesi are expected to be pushed through to be announced after the Premier League transfer window opens on June 15. Both players currently have contracts with Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively until the end of this month.

Now Tottenham are trying to push through a transfer for a right-sided centre-back and a player De Zerbi knows very well in Van Hecke before the Dutchman begins his full involvement in the World Cup this summer.

Van Hecke, who turns 26 this coming Monday, became a key player for De Zerbi in his final season at Brighton and when the Italian left the south coast club at the end of that campaign, the centre-back wrote on social media: "Gaffer thank you very much! You changed my life! I’m really thankful for what you did for me. I’m really upset you are leaving."

Now Spurs are trying to reunite the duo who would clash in their early days together as De Zerbi pushed for more from the Dutchman.

In their first season together, with Van Hecke mostly on the bench, De Zerbi once admitted: "We fight. We fought, but we fought in a good way." Whatever was said between the two worked and the following campaign, with the centre-back hitting new heights, the Italian concluded: "He is improving in an incredible way. He's actually older than his age. His level is high, higher than people think."

Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk added: "It's the biggest improvement I've ever seen in a player since this manager arrived and I love it. He will give you everything he's got, every single day."

Spurs are believed to have had a bid rejected by Brighton and will continue talks for the Netherlands international hopeful that the move will happen. The key to their success will be just how realistic the Seagulls' valuation is of a player who is approaching the final 12 months of his contract. The defender's former club NAC Breda are also entitled to a 7.5 per cent cut of any fee according to Dutch reports.

It's clear that Tottenham's transfer policy has switched in the main to Premier League-experienced players after mistakes in the market in previous seasons. Joao Palhinha and Conor Gallagher ended up becoming key players in keeping the club up under De Zerbi, while Robertson, Senesi and Van Hecke all have years in the English game under their belt. Another transfer target, Manchester City winger Savinho, arrived in the Premier League two years ago.

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Senesi and Van Hecke will suit De Zerbi's style with their comfort on the ball and ease at playing in a style that baits the press of the opposition team. They also importantly fit the club's renewed commitment, after the injury crises of recent years, to signing players robust enough to deal with the physical nature of De Zerbi's football. Neither centre-back has missed much game time in recent years through injury.

The question will be what does it mean for Tottenham's current crop of centre-backs. Micky van de Ven looks set to be a big part of De Zerbi's team after the head coach called the Dutchman the best left-sided centre-back in the Premier League. Van de Ven and Van Hecke played alongside each other in the Netherlands' 1-0 defeat to Algeria on Wednesday night, the former at left-back.

Van de Ven put his injury problems behind him last season, with 45 appearances and 18 of those as captain in the absence of Cristian Romero.

The left-footed Senesi will provide a strong battle to push on Van de Ven, but what of the right side of the defence if Van Hecke were to arrive?

Tottenham currently have Romero, Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin and on-loan star in the making Luka Vuskovic, who can play on either the left or right of a central pairing, or in the centre of a three.

Romero's future looks increasingly like being spent away from the club next season once the World Cup is done, despite the Argentine only signing a new contract last summer. De Zerbi was unable to confirm whether the club captain would be sticking around beyond this summer and with Tottenham looking for maximum value for players who either do not want to be at the club or are not part of the plans, this could be the best summer to get what they expect for the 28-year-old.

Radu Dragusin is also expected to depart this summer, with clubs in Serie A looking to take the Romanian back to Italy, and a big decision must then be made on Vuskovic.

After a season in Hamburg, in which he was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season, the 19-year-old has a queue of Europe's biggest clubs looking to sign him. Spurs must decide whether to continue with the longer road for him, as Arsenal did with William Saliba's three loans after they beat their north London rivals to sign the Frenchman in 2019, or bring Vuskovic back now.

The young Croatian, who will play at the World Cup this summer, has been addressing the only current concern about his Premier League readiness - his acceleration and pace - by working with former decathlete Josko Vlasic this season.

Those in the game say Vuskovic has a far higher ceiling than Van Hecke, but the problem is ensuring the teenager, who has a contract until 2030, gets the minutes he requires for his continued rapid development in a season in which Spurs do not have European football and therefore far fewer games in the schedule.

De Zerbi admitted to football.london that Danso is still getting to grips with his quick passing style but made it clear that "he will be here next season" after praising the rest of the Austria international's qualities.

That means the move for Van Hecke, with Danso also around, appears to suggest that Vuskovic will get a second loan move since arriving at Tottenham, with two more for the teenager before that while technically still a Hajduk Split player.

There are also a list of other young centre-backs for De Zerbi to decide on their next steps, with with the on-loan Ashley Phillips, Kota Takai, Alfie Dorrington as well as academy products Jun'ai Byfield and Malachi Hardy developing.

One thing at least that can be taken from the move for Van Hecke and others is that Spurs are trying to act quickly and decisively in the transfer window for De Zerbi, especially amid a summer when the World Cup will soon slow down the merry-go-round for many clubs.