Newcastle United make approach to try and sign Jan Paul van Hecke – Report | OneFootball

Media in the Netherlands report that Newcastle United are interested in signing Jan Paul van Hecke.

Voetbal International say that their information is that Newcastle made an approach this week to ask about the central defender’s availability.

They report that with only two years left on his contract, Brighton have been trying to get Jan Paul van Hecke to extend his deal.

However, the Dutch media outlet say that the Netherlands international has made clear he won’t be extending his contract, as he wants to move to a club that can offer Champions League football.

Voetbal International state that as well as Newcastle United, Spurs have also taken an interest in the player’s situation, with him refusing to sign an extension.

Whilst the reports says that Jan Paul van Hecke won’t try and force an exit, the reality is that Brighton have a clear transfer strategy of signing players with a willingness to then sell them when their value peaks. So if the Brighton defender was still at the club next season and his contract running down with less than two years to go, clearly any sale price dropping as well.

Voetbal International understand the defender is valued at around €50m (£43.1m) by Brighton.

Jan Paul van Hecke joined Brighton just after he turned 20 in summer 2020 for £2m from NAC Breda.

Following loan spells at Heerenveen and Blackburn, van Hecke has become first choice at Brighton these last two seasons.

Now Premier League experienced and playing for the Netherlands, having only just turned 25 last month, I think he clearly ticks a lot of the boxes Eddie Howe would look for in a new signing.

With all of the other headlines around Newcastle United and the transfer market, it has become all a little bit forgotten about that the two massive priorities in this transfer window were a right sided versatile attacking player and a right sided central defender. Anthony Elanga has obviously satisfied that need, however, next to nothing recently about Newcastle making major efforts in signing that much needed younger right sided central defender to compete with Fabian Schar.

Jan Paul van Hecke made headlines last season at St James’ Park when successfully winding up Anthony Gordon and the United winger responding by pushing him in the face. Gordon red carded and van Hecke and Brighton eventually proceeding in the FA Cup.