Former Sunderland transfer target Jan Paul van Hecke set for £52m Tottenham move after Brighton agreement | OneFootball

According to Sunderland Echo, former Sunderland loan target Jan Paul van Hecke is set to join Tottenham after Brighton agreed a £52 million deal for the 26-year-old defender.

Van Hecke was linked with the Black Cats earlier in his Brighton career, but he stayed the course and has since become one of the Seagulls’ most reliable performers.

He is expected to reunite with former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi in North London. The centre-back has 12 months left on his contract and had shown no desire to extend his stay. Brighton had already rejected one offer, and the package is understood to include a significant sell-on clause.

Signed from NAC Breda in 2020, van Hecke has made 131 appearances for Brighton. He was integral last season, starting 36 of 38 Premier League matches as Fabian Hurzeler’s side finished eighth and secured European football for only the second time in the club’s history.

He also started for the Netherlands in a 2-2 draw with Japan at the World Cup on Sunday, underlining his growing international standing. The impending switch further highlights Brighton’s knack for developing players and selling at a profit. Spurs have already strengthened heavily this summer as they look to improve after successive 17th-placed finishes.

Source: Sunderland Echo