Brighton & Hove Albion are anticipating a renewed approach from Tottenham Hotspur for centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, after the south-coast club turned down an opening bid of £70 million.

Van Hecke, 25, enters the final year of his contract at the Amex this summer and has been identified as a priority target by new Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi — who previously managed the Dutch international during his tenure at Brighton.

Van Hecke's rise at Brighton

Brighton originally recruited Van Hecke from Dutch Eredivisie side NAC Breda in 2020 for a modest fee. Following loan stints at Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers, the centre-back returned to establish himself as a first-team regular, accumulating 131 appearances for the club — including 36 Premier League starts in the most recent campaign.

The defender is also part of the Netherlands' World Cup squad, underscoring the level of recognition he has earned since developing at Brighton.

Barber leads transfer negotiations

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has assumed oversight of outgoing transfers following the sudden departure of sporting director Jason Ayto, confirmed earlier this week. Barber will take charge of any discussions involving Van Hecke.

The club has developed a well-earned reputation for extracting top-market value from its sales. Brighton have previously secured fees exceeding £50 million for Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Joao Pedro, and are unlikely to soften their position for Van Hecke.

With the Dutch defender entering the final 12 months of his deal, it is understood that Barber and owner Tony Bloom have a contingency plan in place should a transfer ultimately be agreed — a hallmark of Brighton's meticulous approach to squad planning.