Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Jan Paul van Hecke has put in a stellar display in the Netherlands latest World Cup warm-up game that would leave Spurs both excited and worried.
Brighton and Hove Albion are proving to be a tough nut to crack as Tottenham Hotspur continue to try to convince them to sell Jan Paul van Hecke.
Spurs have submitted two bids for the Dutch centre-back, both of which have been turned down by the Seagulls.
A third offer for van Hecke is now expected to arrive, with recent reports claiming that Tottenham and Brighton could eventually sort out their differences.
Tottenham target Jan Paul van Hecke shines for Netherlands
While the clubs continue to battle things out on the transfer front, Van Hecke remains focused on World Cup preparations with the Netherlands.
The Dutch side recently faced Uzbekistan and, among the standout performers, was the 26-year-old, who earned a 7.9 FotMob rating – the second-highest in the match.
Van Hecke did not keep a clean sheet, with the friendly ending 2-1 to the Netherlands, but his overall display caught the eye.
He won one of the Netherlands’ penalties and impressed in possession, particularly with his passing. The centre-back completed the most passes in the game (83), recording a 93% pass accuracy rate.
The centre-back was partnered with van Dijk at the back, but Spurs centre-back Micky van de Ven featured from full back.
Spurs Web has since relayed the impressive record van Hecke and van de Ven have in games they have played together, and the latest encounter takes their record to five wins in 12 games.
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Defensive contributions | 5 |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Blocks | 1 |
| Clearances | 1 |
| Headed clearances | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Recoveries | 5 |
| Ground duels won | 3/4 (75%) |
| Touches | 95 |
| Touches in opposition box | 1 |
| Passes into final third | 10 |
| Accurate long balls | 7/8 (88%) |
| Accurate passes | 83/89 (93%) |
| Penalties won | 1 |
Spurs may look to accelerate Jan Paul van Hecke transfer after latest display
Of course, such a performance will only reinforce Tottenham’s belief in the quality of their primary target. However, with every strong display comes the risk of Van Hecke’s price rising even further.
Interest remains from elsewhere, and rival clubs will also be monitoring the Dutchman closely. A strong World Cup could intensify that interest, with Brighton potentially demanding an even higher fee.
However, Tottenham will feel much better about their position after reportedly agreeing on personal terms with Van Hecke, according to the latest reports relayed by Spurs Web.
It is also understood that the player wants a deal completed before the World Cup begins, with Tottenham his preferred destination.
Other Spurs targets impressed in the Netherlands’ latest outing too, with Cody Gakpo scoring twice from the penalty spot and earning a 9.2 rating – the highest in the match.