Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has confirmed the club turned down two separate bids from Tottenham for defender Jan Paul van Hecke over the past week.
Barber addressed the situation publicly on talkSPORT on Sunday morning, making clear Brighton’s firm stance on any potential deal for the Dutchman.
Roberto De Zerbi is aiming to bolster his Tottenham squad ahead of the new season, having already brought in full-back Andy Robertson on a free transfer this summer.
De Zerbi has now turned his attention to one of his former players from his time managing Brighton, with van Hecke identified as a key summer target.
Van Hecke was a prominent figure under De Zerbi during the manager’s tenure at Brighton, making him a natural priority for the Spurs boss as he reshapes his squad.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Barber said: “There was always going to be a lot of interest in our best players and certainly in the case of Jan Paul.”
Barber continued: “Yes, we have rejected a bid from Tottenham over the last week or so – in fact two bids. From that point of view, as I’ve said before, it has to be right for us as well as the player.”
The Brighton chief executive stressed that any decision must align with the club’s model and the needs of head coach Fabian Hurzler, who has finished eighth in the Premier League in each of his two seasons in charge.
Barber added: “We have to be in a position to make the best trades to suit our model and to also make sure we’re supporting Fabian, because he’s got another big season ahead of him.”
Brighton have qualified for European competition this season, and Barber made clear the club intends to compete seriously across all fronts under Hurzler’s management.
“We want to go as deep in that competition as we can while also doing well in the Premier League,” Barber said, outlining Brighton’s ambitions for the campaign ahead.
He also referenced experienced players such as Pascal Gross as important figures in maintaining the squad’s balance between youth development and senior quality.
Barber concluded: “As always, it’s a balancing act and hopefully this summer we’ll be working hard to pull it off again.”
Reports indicate Tottenham’s opening offer fell short of Brighton’s £70 million valuation for van Hecke, though the two clubs are understood to remain in dialogue as Spurs look to reach an agreement.
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