Roberto De Zerbi and Jan Paul van Hecke linked to Tottenham Hotspur transfer

Roberto De Zerbi, now manager of Tottenham Hotspur, praised Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke after the player helped Spurs avoid relegation with a late assist in a 2‑2 draw against Brighton. De Zerber’s message to van Hecke – a joking “Flikker op!” – highlighted the coach’s confidence in the defender’s abilities.

Van Hecke, who developed under De Zerbi at Brighton & Hove Albion from 2022‑2024, earned a reputation as a strong centre‑back, winning Blackburn Rovers’ player‑of‑the‑year award in 2021‑22 and contributing to Brighton’s record sixth‑place finish. In the summer of 2024 he signed for Tottenham, a move De Zerbi described as a “family” decision, underscoring the coach’s influence on the transfer.