Tottenham Hotspur table offer to sign Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur have accelerated their summer recruitment by submitting a formal opening bid to Brighton & Hove Albion for defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

After securing Premier League survival on the final day under manager Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs are moving to overhaul a fragile defence.

With star centre-back Cristian Romero widely expected to leave London this summer, securing a commanding, elite distributor has become an urgent priority for the Tottenham hierarchy.

De Zerbi worked with Van Hecke during his time on the south coast, where he developed into one of the league’s standout defenders.

The 25-year-old anchored Brighton’s backline last season, amassing 3,211 minutes, posting an impressive 87 percent passing accuracy and winning a combined 209 duels.

His familiarity with De Zerbi’s high-risk, build-from-the-back approach makes him a seamless, plug-and-play leader for an evolving squad.

Signing Van Hecke will be no straightforward task, given Brighton’s reputation for demanding premium fees for their top assets.

However, Tottenham hold an advantage as the defender’s contract expires next year, and he has shown no willingness to sign fresh terms.

Van Hecke offers the blend of defensive steel and progressive distribution that Tottenham lacked during their recent relegation scare.

While Tottenham’s opening bid for the Dutchman was rejected, negotiations with Brighton are set to continue.

If Tottenham get a deal over the line, Van Hecke would arrive as the cornerstone of a potential new central defensive partnership alongside incoming signing Marcos Senesi.