Brighton are anticipating a second bid from Tottenham Hotspur for defender Jan Paul van Hecke after turning down an initial £70m approach.
The 25-year-old centre-back is currently away on international duty as part of the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, adding further spotlight to his situation.
New Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi is eager to work with Van Hecke again, having previously managed the defender during his own tenure at Brighton.
Van Hecke joined Brighton from Dutch Eredivisie side NAC Breda in 2020, arriving for a relatively modest transfer fee compared to his current valuation.
He spent time on loan at Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers before establishing himself as a key figure in the Brighton first team.
The Dutch defender has now made 131 appearances for the club in total, including 36 Premier League starts during last season alone.
With just one year remaining on his contract at the Amex, Brighton’s negotiating position carries a natural urgency that both clubs will be acutely aware of.
Chief executive Paul Barber has been placed in charge of overseeing outgoing transfers following the unexpected departure of sporting director Jason Ayto, confirmed earlier this week.
Brighton have long maintained a tough stance in transfer negotiations, having secured fees above £50m for Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Joao Pedro in recent seasons.
Owner Tony Bloom and Barber are widely expected to have contingency plans already in place should a deal for Van Hecke ultimately be agreed with Spurs.
Brighton’s recruitment model depends heavily on selling established players at peak value, making it unlikely they will accept anything below their asking price without a significant fight.
Tottenham will almost certainly need to improve substantially on their opening offer if De Zerbi is to be reunited with one of his most trusted former players.
