Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has finally spoken out on Jan Paul van Hecke following the defender’s blockbuster move to Tottenham.
Spurs are understandably delighted to have FINALLY landed centre-back Van Hecke, sealing a £52million switch to north London.
Talks with Brighton were anything but straightforward — the Seagulls knocked back several Spurs offers before the two sides finally found common ground.
Van Hecke has already opened up on his excitement to pull on the Tottenham shirt next season, though for now his focus is firmly on the World Cup with the Netherlands.
Hurzeler Hails Van Hecke After Departure
Spurs have every right to be excited about their new Dutch defender. Van Hecke currently sits among the league’s elite in several key defensive metrics compared to Tottenham’s existing centre-back options.
He was also a key figure in a Brighton defence that shipped the third-fewest goals in the league last season, racking up 36 appearances.
Beating Chelsea to his signature is a MASSIVE coup for Spurs, who’ll be hoping he hits the ground running.
Hurzeler has now given his verdict on the player he’s lost, reflecting on his rise and what made him special.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the Brighton boss opened up on Van Hecke’s growth at the Amex — before admitting the Seagulls will sorely feel his loss.
He said: “Jan Paul has been outstanding for us. Through hard work, consistency, and an exceptional mentality, he developed into one of the league’s best centre-backs. As a club, we’re grateful for everything he gave to Brighton, and of course, we’ll miss him. I’ll miss him personally. We wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
Spurs Turn Attention to Tonali After Defensive Spree
Tottenham aren’t slowing down, with more reinforcements clearly on the way.
Having already strengthened the backline with Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson, and Van Hecke, Spurs are now zeroing in on midfield.
Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali has emerged as TARGET NUMBER ONE, with talks reportedly already underway between the two clubs.
Spurs Web understands negotiations have kicked off for the Italian midfielder, valued at a hefty £100million.
But Tottenham’s opening £80million offer has already been REJECTED — meaning there’s still plenty of work to do before a deal gets over the line.
