Tottenham line up a third bid for Van Hecke as Brighton dig in for a record fee
Roberto De Zerbi wants to reunite with Jan Paul van Hecke at Tottenham, but a third bid worth around 55 million pounds still falls short of Brighton’s record valuation.
Jun 14, 2026
Tottenham are preparing a third bid for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, with the summer window about to open and Roberto De Zerbi pushing to be reunited with a player he knows well. Spurs have already had two offers turned down, and reports put their next attempt at around 55 million pounds. Brighton, as is their habit, are not making it easy.
The Dutch centre-back has made his preference clear. Personal terms were agreed days ago, according to Fabrizio Romano, and Van Hecke is said to want only a move to north London. That leaves a single sticking point, and it is the familiar one between these two clubs: the fee.
The reunion De Zerbi is chasing
De Zerbi took over at Tottenham in March on a five-year deal, and Van Hecke sits high on his list of targets. The two worked together at Brighton, where the defender played roughly 50 games under him and earned the manager’s open admiration. A ball-playing centre-back who is comfortable stepping into midfield fits the way De Zerbi wants his side to build from the back, and there is little guesswork involved when a coach already knows exactly how a player operates in his system.
At 26, Van Hecke is also reaching the stage where a bigger move makes sense. He has been at Brighton since 2020 and grew into one of their defensive leaders before establishing himself in the Netherlands setup. He is currently away with the Dutch squad at the World Cup, which has not slowed the talks at club level.
Brighton dig in for a record fee
The hold-up is the valuation. Brighton are reported to want in the region of 81 million euros, a figure that would set a club sale record, and they have rejected Tottenham bids worth 40 million and 50 million pounds so far. With Van Hecke under contract until 2027, the Seagulls feel no pressure to sell cheaply, and their record over recent years suggests they rarely do.
Tottenham’s third offer, worth a reported 55 million pounds with add-ons, narrows the gap without closing it. Spurs sound confident a deal can be done, but the distance between what they are willing to pay and what Brighton are asking is still real. Whether it gets bridged depends largely on how far the buyers are prepared to stretch.
Part of a wider rebuild
The pursuit fits a clear pattern this summer. Tottenham have already brought in Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers as De Zerbi reshapes the squad after a season spent fighting relegation. Van Hecke would be a different kind of signing, one that costs real money and signals a step up in ambition rather than a low-risk addition.
The window opens on Monday, which should bring some clarity. Brighton have a price in mind and a player who would rather leave, and Tottenham have a manager who wants the deal and the money to chase it. Those situations usually resolve one way or another once the market is officially live.