Brighton CEO Paul Barber has confirmed that the club has rejected two offers from Tottenham Hotspur for star defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
Tottenham has been actively trying to strengthen their defense after a shaky last season, but Brighton has proven to be a formidable negotiator, even with Van Hecke entering the final year of his contract.
The North London club's interest in the Dutch international is heavily influenced by manager Roberto De Zerbi, who previously coached Van Hecke at Brighton. Under De Zerbi, Van Hecke blossomed into one of the Premier League's top ball-playing center-backs.
Barber stated on talkSPORT, "There's always going to be a lot of interest in our best players and certainly in the case of Jan Paul. We’ve been very clear that interest has been ongoing for a while. It’s coming from multiple sources. Yes, we have rejected a bid from Tottenham over the last week or so, in fact, two bids, so from that point of view, it has to be right for us as well as the player."
Reports suggest Brighton is holding out for around £50 million, refusing to budge despite interest from Liverpool and Newcastle United. This strong stance aligns with Brighton's reputation for tough negotiations.
While discussions for Van Hecke are ongoing, Tottenham has already made moves in the transfer market, signing Andy Robertson and reportedly nearing a deal for Marcos Senesi. However, Van Hecke remains a key target, and Tottenham may need to significantly up their offer to secure his signature.
