According to The Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on what would be their third major addition of the summer, with a deal expected to be finalized within the next 72 hours.
Following a dramatic Premier League finale that saw Spurs only just avoid relegation to the Championship, the club’s hierarchy is moving swiftly to equip manager Roberto De Zerbi with a squad strong enough to push up the table next season.
Tottenham have already strengthened their backline—which has shipped 183 goals across the last three top-flight campaigns—by signing experienced free agents Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.
But ENIC’s summer business is far from over. Further reinforcements are being lined up in goal, across the defense, in midfield, and in attack.
The north London outfit are currently in negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion for centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, and with Manchester City over winger Savinho. They are also ready to ramp up interest in City goalkeeper James Trafford should Guglielmo Vicario depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the coming months.
Yet one particular transfer is being prioritized for swift completion—and it could have significant repercussions for a current first-team regular.
Spurs Pushing to Seal Van Hecke Deal Before Sunday
The player Tottenham are most aggressively pursuing is Jan Paul van Hecke, who has reportedly made Spurs his sole summer destination.
Personal terms are believed to have been agreed, leaving the clubs to settle on a transfer fee—no easy task given Brighton’s reputation for hardball negotiations.
According to GIVEMESPORT sources, Tottenham have already seen two offers rejected for the Dutch international and are preparing a third bid. Meanwhile, the BBC reports that Brighton value the 26-year-old at £70 million, despite his contract at the Amex Stadium having just one year remaining.
As reported by The Athletic, Spurs are hoping to wrap up the signing before the Netherlands’ opening World Cup group match against Japan on Sunday night.
Van Hecke Arrival Could Reshape Defensive Ranks—and Futures
Should Van Hecke join Senesi at Spurs, De Zerbi would have a wealth of centre-back options, including the new pair, captain Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, Kevin Danso, and Luka Vuskovic.
After months of speculation, it now seems increasingly likely that Romero will leave Tottenham this summer.
Even if the Argentine departs, it would not be surprising to see at least one more central defender follow him out, given that Van Hecke, Senesi, and Van de Ven would likely form the preferred trio.
The situation surrounding 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic—widely considered one of Europe’s most promising young defenders, as evidenced by his standout loan spell at Hamburg this season—is particularly noteworthy.
If Van Hecke arrives, Vuskovic would face a steep climb for regular minutes, leaving Spurs and the teenager with a choice: battle for a limited role or seek another move away, either temporarily or permanently.
