Tottenham Hotspur are refusing to give up in their pursuit of Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, with Football Insider reporting that Spurs are set to table an improved third bid worth more than £55 million.

Spurs Won’t Take No for an Answer

Two offers — both valued at up to £50m — have already been knocked back by Brighton, but Tottenham are pushing forward. Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly keen to reunite with the defender he worked with on the south coast, and Van Hecke himself is said to be determined to make the move to North London. With his contract expiring next summer, Brighton’s leverage is quickly diminishing.

Why Van Hecke Makes Sense

The 26-year-old Dutch international is exactly the profile De Zerbi is looking for — a 6ft 2in ball-playing centre-back who is quick, aerially dominant, and comfortable in possession. Last season he delivered six goal contributions and kept nine clean sheets across 36 Premier League appearances, helping Brighton qualify for the Conference League.

He’s also cemented his place in the Netherlands squad, featuring in their World Cup group stage draw against Japan.

Verdict

With Cristian Romero linked with an exit, Micky van de Ven under transfer scrutiny, and Radu Dragusin still finding his feet, Tottenham’s defensive reinforcement is an absolute necessity. Van Hecke ticks every box — and at 26, he’s entering his peak years. If Spurs can get this deal over the line, it would be a seriously smart piece of business.