De Zerbi could be re-united with Brighton’s 2024/25 Player of the Season whose contract runs out in 2027

Roberto De Zerbi wants to reunite with Brighton star at Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur are going to be in the market for a host of fresh faces in the upcoming transfer window, after enduring a difficult season.

Spurs have gone with Roberto De Zerbi to save them from relegation and then oversee a major squad rebuild in the summer. We could see the 46-year-old strengthen several areas of the pitch as he tries to make the club competitive next term.

With Cristian Romero’s future unresolved and Micky van de Ven attracting interest from top European clubs, there is a clear need for defensive reinforcements. The Lilywhites are set to welcome talented defender Luka Vuskovic after his SV Hamburger loan expires in the summer, but they need at least one new centre-back to potentially replace both Romero and Van de Ven ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Roberto De Zerbi could persuade Tottenham to raid his former club Brighton

It is often the case that a new head coach at a club wants to bring in players he has previously worked with and shares a strong working relationship. De Zerbi’s case isn’t different either, with the Italian seemingly keen to reunite with a defender he worked with at one of his previous clubs.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the new Tottenham boss is an admirer of defender Jan Paul van Hecke. The Brighton star is one of the names that has been discussed by the top officials at the club as part of the recruitment work ahead of the summer transfer window.

This isn’t the first time Jan Paul van Hecke has been linked with a move to Tottenham. Brighton player of the 2024/25 season, the Dutchman has quietly enjoyed another strong season at the south coast, despite the Seagulls’ up-and-down campaign. He has been a mainstay in their defence, registering three goals and two assists in 29 Premier League appearances.

However, Van Hecke is set to enter the final year of his contract in the summer, and there has been no progress on a new deal. If the centre-back does not commit his future soon, Brighton could be forced to cash him in when the transfer window reopens, as they’d not want to lose him on a free transfer in the summer of 2027.

Van Hecke would be an ideal addition to De Zerbi’s Tottenham

Having made great strides with the Seagulls, Van Hecke is now ready to make the step up to a bigger club. The 25-year-old, who is likely to be a part of the Netherlands squad for the World Cup, would be an excellent acquisition to Tottenham’s defensive ranks.

He is composed in possession, press-resistant, can step out and progress the ball and stop opposition attacks. Standing at 1.89m tall, Van Hecke is aerially strong, intimidating and a huge asset to have in both boxes. The rising Dutch star’s reading of the game is commendable, too, while he has grown into a leader at Brighton in the last couple of years.

Having worked under De Zerbi at Brighton, the 25-year-old knows the tactical demands in and out of possession required to thrive in his system. This would allow Van Hecke to seamlessly adapt to the Italian manager’s system if he makes the jump from Brighton to Tottenham. De Zerbi’s role in convincing him to become a part of his revolution in N17 will be crucial; however, he will hope the Netherlands international doesn’t end up penning a new deal.