Spurs agree personal terms to sign big-money star

Tottenham Hotspur fell by the wayside this season – but under Roberto De Zerbi, they have picked themselves back up.

Whether Spurs manage to rebound from their lowly 17th-place finish in the Premier League remains to be seen, but ENIC now have a chance to put Tottenham’s problems to rights and return to European contention under De Zerbi’s guidance.

The Italian coach, who last managed Brighton & Hove Albion in the English top flight, places emphasis on retaining possession, but he is far from measured in his approach, instead looking to suffocate opponents and sustain thrilling attacking sequences.

However, Tottenham need to be pragmatic after their near-miss, their dance with danger, and this has been reflected by their early transfer activity.

Spurs lining up club-record summer move

Deals have progressed for both Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. The duo are set to become free agents when their contracts with Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively expire at the end of the month.

That’s a big part of the backline sorted, especially when considering Cristian Romero is expected to be sold this summer. Forwards are needed, for sure, and work has been started on a deal for wantaway Manchester City winger Savinho, but Romero will leave a big hole indeed, and something needs to be done about it.

As per Dutch outlet Voetbal International, Tottenham have agreed personal terms with Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, following news from the reputable David Ornstein revealing that an opening offer had been tabled for the Dutchman, falling short of Brighton’s £70m valuation.

While Tottenham have failed with their proposal, talks continue, with De Zerbi eager to restructure his backline well ahead of pre-season and then the new campaign.

Why Van Hecke is perfect for De Zerbi’s Spurs

£70m for Van Hecke might seem steep, but he is actually one of the most underrated centre-backs in the Premier League, someone who has worked and thrived under De Zerbi in the past and has the skillset to develop Tottenham’s ball-playing structure from deep.

It’s the kind of signing that could change things for this club. Van Hecke, aged 25, is a confident and elegant centre-half, having won 5.8 duels on average each game in the Premier League this season while constantly pushing forward, be that through his athleticism or skill on the ball.

Tottenham already have a top-class ball-playing defender in Romero, but Romero is leaving, and it’s crucial that De Zerbi lands a replacement tuned to a similar frequency. Senesi is excellent on the ball, but he’s left sided, so Van Hecke would be the perfect signing.

Could it be the most transformative signing since 2023, the start of the Ange Postecoglou era? You could certainly make that argument, when the likes of James Maddison first arrived and produced emphatic results until a tsunami of injuries dragged Spurs down into the depths of the Premier League.

Maddison is one of the most talented players in Tottenham’s squad, but he hasn’t played all that much football since joining from relegated Leicester City for £40m in 2023, and it’s fair to argue that Spurs’ fortunes would have been far brighter had he been at the creative centre of Postecoglou and then Thomas Frank and then De Zerbi’s systems.

The England international, after all, was crowned the Premier League Player of the Month during August 2023, richly rewarded for his fast start under Ange Postecoglou, the nucleus of that thrilling period.

Let’s hope the 29-year-old bounces back next season. Let’s hope that he has the platform to shine, reinforced by the likes of Senesi and Van Hecke.

‘Winning’ the transfer window often fails to translate to title-winning success. Ask Chelsea and Liverpool about that. That said, ENIC are taking steps in the right direction, blending pragmatism with excitement. With De Zerbi in the dugout, it might just work out.