Tottenham Hotspur are continuing to push for Jan Paul van Hecke this summer, and while a deal is still some distance away, early signs suggest Spurs could be building a defensive partnership capable of thriving both domestically and internationally.
Tottenham Hotspur are still far away from completing the signing of Jan Paul van Hecke, despite already submitting a first bid to Brighton.
It is understood that Spurs are looking to get a deal for the Brighton man done before the World Cup begins later this month.
The Seagulls, however, were not impressed by Tottenham’s opening offer for van Hecke, and it is no surprise it was rejected, with the bid falling short of Brighton’s £50-70 million valuation of the defender.
Spurs Web has since confirmed that Spurs are expected to return with another offer as they continue to push for the Dutch centre-back.
Tottenham could unleash Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven partnership
Spurs Web has also relayed that the signing of van Hecke could trigger a reshuffle at the back for Tottenham ahead of next season.
Cristian Romero’s future remains uncertain and, with Spurs targeting a centre-back of van Hecke’s calibre, the Argentine’s time in N17 could well be nearing an end.
That would potentially introduce an all-Dutch partnership alongside Micky van de Ven, and the early signs from international duty are certainly encouraging.
The pair have featured together 11 times for the Netherlands across senior and Under-21 level, conceding just seven goals during that run. Out of these 11 games, there were four wins, six draws, and just one defeat, which came this week, ironically.
It is worth noting, however, that not all of those appearances came with both operating as centre-backs, as van de Ven has often been deployed at full-back for the Netherlands.
Van de Ven and van Hecke record together for the Netherlands
| Competition | Match | Result | Goals conceded |
|---|---|---|---|
| U21 European qualifiers | Netherlands U21 vs Gibraltar U21 | 6-0 win | 0 |
| Under-21 friendly | Norway U21 vs Netherlands U21 | 0-3 win | 0 |
| U21 European Championship | Belgium U21 vs Netherlands U21 | 0-0 draw | 0 |
| U21 European Championship | Portugal U21 vs Netherlands U21 | 1-1 draw | 1 |
| U21 European Championship | Netherlands U21 vs Georgia U21 | 1-1 draw | 1 |
| World Cup qualifiers | Netherlands vs Poland | 1-1 draw | 1 |
| World Cup qualifiers | Netherlands vs Finland | 4-0 win | 0 |
| World Cup qualifiers | Poland vs Netherlands | 1-1 draw | 1 |
| International friendly | Netherlands vs Norway | 2-1 win | 1 |
| International friendly | Netherlands vs Ecuador | 1-1 draw | 1 |
| International friendly | Netherlands vs Algeria | 0-1 defeat | 1 |
| Total | 11 matches | 20 goals scored | 7 goals conceded |
One of those outings came yesterday in the Netherlands’ clash against Algeria, where the Dutch side suffered a 1-0 defeat. Van de Ven featured for 45 minutes, while van Hecke played 87 minutes.
Spurs could benefit from Jan Paul van Hecke’s ball-playing quality
Van Hecke, who Pep Guardiola once described as “very, very good”, appears a strong complement to van de Ven.
The Brighton centre-back is not the quickest defender, but his ball-playing quality is exceptional and helps his side retain possession while progressing play through the lines.
However, that aggressive style can leave space in behind and increase the risk of losing possession in dangerous areas – something van de Ven’s recovery pace could help cover for at Tottenham.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman also praised van Hecke’s ability in possession when explaining his decision to start the defender in a game against Hungary.
His reasoning could also hint at why Tottenham are keen on the 25-year-old. Koeman said: “Why did I choose Van Hecke? Well, you generally assume that Hungary will do the same as in the previous game.
“They will drop far back and keep the spaces small. That is why it is important to have a good build-up from the back, and Van Hecke is very good at that. Of course, it also has to do with how he plays at his club. If you have many good central defenders, you can also look at different details.”
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