Tottenham ready to bid £40 million for “quality” Dutch defender who boasts “incredible leadership” skills

Netherlands' Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke. (REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw)

Tottenham have endured a nightmare fortnight, seeing their season unravel in dramatic fashion.

The North London Derby at the weekend ended in a 4–1 hammering at the hands of Arsenal, with Eberechi Eze — who almost joined Spurs in the summer — scoring a ruthless hat-trick.

Just days later, the European stage offered no respite, as Thomas Frank’s side were torn apart 5–3 by reigning Champions League winners PSG, Vitinha grabbing a treble and exposing Spurs’ defensive frailties.

The struggles continued domestically, with a 2–1 loss to Fulham thanks to two early goals and a costly error from Guglielmo Vicario, followed by a midweek 2–2 draw against Newcastle.

That game saw Cristian Romero, a centre-back, net twice, including a remarkable last-minute overhead kick, highlighting just how desperate Tottenham’s attacking and defensive issues have become.

With their backline leaking goals and their attack struggling for consistency, the club are now turning their attention to the January window in search of reinforcements.

Spurs have re-ignited their interest in Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke as they prepare for a major squad overhaul in January.

The Dutch centre-back was first scouted by Spurs last summer, and according to TEAMtalk, the club are considering a £40 million bid to secure his services.

Van Hecke has been ever-present for Brighton this season, impressing with his defensive reliability and earning high praise from former manager Roberto De Zerbi, who described him as a “quality” player with “incredible leadership.” His stock rose further after scoring twice in Brighton’s thrilling 4–3 defeat to Aston Villa midweek.

Brighton remain keen to keep the 24-year-old, whose contract runs until 2027, but Spurs are prepared to test their resolve. Sporting directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici are reportedly targeting multiple areas of the squad for improvement — including central defence, goalkeeping, midfield, and the frontline — and Van Hecke is viewed as a key part of that plan.

A fee in the region of £40m is expected to be needed to secure a deal, and given Tottenham’s ongoing defensive woes, Van Hecke’s leadership and consistency could make him a pivotal addition if the move goes through.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.