Spurs target keen to join North London side

Away from the action of the World Cup, Premier League clubs are eagerly awaiting the official opening of the transfer window on Monday. 

All 20 top flight sides in England are likely to be busy this summer, including champions Arsenal and newly-promoted Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City.

There will be plenty of change this summer, with five of the traditional ‘top six’ having changed manager since the start of last term.

One of those clubs is Tottenham Hotspur, who sacked both Thomas Frank and his successor, Igor Tudor, last season, before eventually appointing Roberto De Zerbi.

Now, it has emerged that one of De Zerbi’s top transfer targets is keen on the idea of a move to north London.

According to Football Insider, Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul Van Hecke is determined to sign for Tottenham this summer.

Van Hecke is currently on international duty with the Netherlands at the World Cup (Photo: Rene Nijhuis/Alamy)

The centre-back has been the subject of two rejected bids from the Lilywhites so far this summer, the report claims, and Spurs are now readying a third offer.

Van Hecke joined the Seagulls from Dutch side NAC Breda back in 2020 – while De Zerbi was in charge at The Amex – and has since had loan spells with both Herenveen and Blackburn Rovers.

The defender returned to the south coast from Ewood Park in 2022 and has since established himself as a key player for the Seagulls.

Van Hecke has now played more than 130 times for Brighton across all competitions, but the report suggests that he feels his time has come to move on and seek a new challenge elsewhere.

The defender’s contract with the Seagulls is set to run until the end of next season.