Tottenham have reached a deal with Brighton to sign defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
The transfer fee is estimated to be around 52 million pounds (about 52 billion won) and the player has expressed his desire to play under his ‘father’ Roberto De Zerbi.
The centre-back only wanted to join Tottenham.
Roberto De Zerbi and Van Hecke worked together in Brighton.
The Netherlands international defender has one year left on his contract with Brighton and will play for De Zervi’s Seagulls from 2023 to 2024.
Brighton would make a significant profit for the 26-year-old by signing him from NAC Breda for £1.8m in 2020.
The signing is part of several weeks of planning at Tottenham, with the club deciding to back De Zerbi off the market and planning major changes.
The club are keenly interested in Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, while also remaining interested in Manchester City striker Sabinho.
Analysis: De Zerbi’s transfer plans at Spurs have become clear.
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what Tottenham are trying to do this transfer window. Roberto De Zerbi is looking for a centre-back who can handle the ball better.
Having agreed a deal for Van Hecke, having already secured Marcos Senesi’s free transfer, Spurs are looking for a quality ball host in the first stages of the game.
De Zerbi is targeting two of the Premier League’s best players in specific areas – Senesi and Van Hecke. These are the top two players in the league last season for passing the ball around defenders.
Simply put, they can get the ball through the lines to absorb pressure from the back and take opposition players out of the game.
Marcos Senesi and Van Hecke are two of the best ball-playing defenders in the Premier League.
Under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth, Senesi were accustomed to a very direct and vertical style of play, with the third ball quickly punched out.
Meanwhile, Van Heke played 50 games for Brighton alongside De Zervi and is used to De Zervi’s intense style of play.
That work was done in an interview with Sky Sports in 2024, when asked about defenders playing in behind in dangerous areas: “It helps that my previous coach was De Zerbi, because he incorporated this style of play.”
Spurs having two ball-playing defenders is a sign that they feel they are lacking. The numbers back this up. Senesi and Van Geke are a step above Christian Romero and Mickey van der Ven in terms of passing ability.
If Spurs secure both players, what would it mean for Spurs’ current centre-backs?
