Why Van Hecke holds the key to unlocking De Zerbi ball at Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur are exploring a move for Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke, a centre-back whose progressive passing and composure on the ball make him a natural fit for Roberto De Zerbi's possession-oriented system. The article analyzes how van Hecke's profile — comfortable building play from the back under pressure — could solve a long-standing structural issue for Spurs, who have lacked a defender capable of consistently initiating attacks from deep. With De Zerbi now in charge at Tottenham, the recruitment reflects a clear tactical identity being established, and van Hecke's potential arrival would be a foundational piece of that project.
Read the full story at skysports.comDe Zerbi's appointment at Spurs signals a stylistic reset, and the pursuit of Van Hecke underlines exactly that. Brighton built their identity around a centre-back who can serve as a deep playmaker, and Tottenham appear to be chasing the same blueprint. If the transfer goes through, it would mark one of the clearest examples of a manager shaping recruitment to his philosophy rather than the other way around, and it would give Spurs a defender capable of dictating tempo rather than simply clearing lines.
Context added by Socc360, not by skysports.com.
Data source: skysports.com (via Socc360). Last updated .
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