Tottenham have been handed the green light to complete a deal for Jan Paul van Hecke during the World Cup. Spurs are closing in on their third signing of the summer after reaching an agreement with fellow Premier League side Brighton for the central defender.
Standard Sport understands Tottenham will pay a fixed fee of £52million for the 26-year-old, who has just over 12 months remaining on his Brighton contract. With regard to Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, two players who will join the club officially on July 1, Spurs were able to finalise those free transfers before the World Cup got underway. The agreement for Van Hecke was struck after the Netherlands’ opening game of the tournament, a 2-2 draw with Japan last Sunday.
Completing a deal for the Dutchman does not necessarily depend on how far Ronald Koeman’s side go in North America, as he has already confirmed his stance on transfers taking place during the World Cup. "Ideally, I would prefer a player to have peace of mind regarding his club," Koeman said in a news conference. "And that there is clarity about the future. But I cannot stop it."
Van Hecke himself has suggested the deal will accelerate after his involvement at the 2026 World Cup is over. "First of all, I just want to focus on the Dutch national team," he told reporters before the draw with Japan. "That is a very important match for us, for me. So that’s my focus until now. Of course, things are also playing, and I know that myself too. But that’s not for now, that’s more after the World Cup. I will then see where I play."
"I have also said very clearly that I would like to have clarity for myself before the World Cup. And I have that too. But then for now for myself it’s just clear. I just want to play the World Cup as well as possible. That clarity will probably come after the World Cup when I make that step, then it’s clear to everyone."
