Football
Exclusive: Brighton Poised to Cash in on Van Hecke Amid Champions League Ambitions
Brighton and Hove Albion are trying to convince Jan Paul van Hecke to sign a new deal amidst interest from top Premier League clubs. The Dutch defender is hesitant to commit and is eyeing a move for Champions League football. Brighton may sell him for around £45 million if he doesn't negotiate a new deal.
FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-BRIGHTON by OLI SCARFF | Getty Images
Brighton and Hove Albion are still trying to convince Jan Paul van Hecke to sign a new deal at the club, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The Seagulls’ star defender delayed contract talks in the summer amid interest from some of the Premier League’s biggest hitters.
Our sources have been told Brighton’s Player of the Year has had his head swayed by interest from the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United and sees his long-term future away from the Amex.
Van Hecke is under contract at the club until the summer of 2027 and is it understood he will not force a move out of the south coast outfit, but he also is not interested in a new deal as things stand.
Our sources have been told Brighton would not be willing to allow the Dutch international to leave for free and will look to sell him in the summer if he decides against negotiating a new deal.
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Van Hecke is one of the most impressive centre-backs in the top flight and is understood to be desperate for Champions League football.
The 26-year-old signed for Brighton for just £1.8million from NAC Breda in 2020 and the club are set to receive a huge return on their investment.
It is reported that clubs are willing to offer a fee in the region of £45million for the highly-rated centre-back.
After joining the Seagulls, van Hecke went on loan to Heerenveen in the Dutch league before a second loan spell at Championship Blackburn — where he earned the club’s Player of the Year award.
The player became a regular at the Amex under Roberto De Zerbi in the 2023/24 campaign and signed a contract extension.
Van Hecke made his international debut against Germany in September 2024 and scooped a number of awards for his performances last season.
Shane is an experienced sports journalist with over a decade on the front line, covering everything from football to horse racing. A familiar face in the snooker pressroom, his work regularly appears in the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star, alongside SportsBoom.
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