Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has encouraged Netherlands teammate Jan Paul van Hecke to join him at the club this summer, despite reported interest from Chelsea. The 26-year-old Van Hecke, currently at Brighton & Hove Albion, is valued at €80 million by his club and has been linked with a potential move to Stamford Bridge following the anticipated appointment of Xabi Alonso as Chelsea manager.
Van Hecke was a key player for Brighton last season, making 40 appearances across all competitions and contributing with three goals and three assists. His performances helped the Seagulls secure qualification for the Europa Conference League with an eighth-place finish in the Premier League, though his form reportedly dipped towards the end of the campaign. Tottenham have identified Van Hecke as a priority target for the 2026 summer transfer window, with manager Roberto De Zerbi keen to work with the centre-back again after their time together at Brighton.
Spurs have already agreed a deal to sign Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth on a free transfer, but remain in the market for further defensive reinforcement due to uncertainty surrounding the future of captain Cristian Romero. Brighton have already rejected two bids from Tottenham for Van Hecke, as confirmed by the club’s CEO Paul Barber. Van de Ven has openly discussed the possibility of a move with his international colleague, stating he believes a transfer to Tottenham would be a “good step” for Van Hecke.
Chelsea may now face a more challenging task in securing Van Hecke’s signature. As a result, the Blues may need to focus on alternative centre-back options, including Ousmane Diomande of Sporting CP, Jacobo Ramon of Como, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba. Reports suggest Chelsea are prioritising an experienced partner for Levi Colwill in central defence. The club have already completed several signings ahead of the summer window, including Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, Dastan Satpaev, and Denner, with a deal in place for Strasbourg midfielder Valentin Barco. Several loanees are also set to return to Stamford Bridge for pre-season.
