Brighton center-back Jan Paul van Hecke says he has clarity on his future amid Tottenham transfer interest, but insists his focus is on the Netherlands' World Cup campaign for now
Ryan Taylor
14:43, 13 Jun 2026Updated 14:50, 13 Jun 2026
Jan Paul van Hecke
Jan Paul van Hecke is preparing for the Netherlands' opening game
Tottenham transfer target Jan Paul van Hecke has insisted he already has "clarity" on his future at club level, hinting that he is eager to link up once more with former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Nevertheless, Van Hecke has also made it abundantly clear that he does not want any lingering distractions ahead of his World Cup debut with the Netherlands.
Spurs have already had two bids knocked back for the Albion center-back, while the Seagulls are looking to bring in Croatian talent Luka Vuskovic as his replacement, having tabled a separate $40 million (£30 million) offer. Liverpool is also believed to have made checks on the defender before Arne Slot's departure.
Negotiations between the clubs are ongoing, but regardless, Van Hecke appears set to line up alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of Holland's defence in their Group F opener against Japan in Dallas.
When pressed on his circumstances, he said: "First of all, I just want to focus on the Dutch national team on Sunday.
"That is a very important match for us, for me. So that's my focus until now. Of course, things are also playing, and I know that myself too. But that's not for now, that's more after the World Cup. I will then see where I play.
"I have also said very clearly that I would like to have clarity for myself before the World Cup. And uh I have that too. But then for now for myself it's just clear. I just want to play the World Cup as well as possible.
"That clarity will probably come after the World Cup when uh when I make that step, then it's clear to everyone."
Jan Paul van Hecke of Brighton
Jan Paul van Hecke has been a key player for Brighton(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Should Van Hecke take to the pitch, he will also be fulfilling a lifelong childhood ambition. His uncle Jan Poortvliet represented Holland at the 1978 tournament and even featured in the final where Oranje came up short against hosts Argentina in Buenos Aires.
It's partly why he never forgets his roots and modest beginnings, and former club NAC Breda stand to benefit from his prospective transfer to Spurs, should that come to fruition.
Van Hecke added, referring to Breda's 7.5 per cent sell-on clause: "My story is special anyway, because I was still playing as a main class amateur at 17.
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"We were promoted then and that is of course special now that you take such a step and very nice amounts will eventually go back to where you started. Of course those people are watching and thinking about that amount!".
Holland manager Ronald Koeman is optimistic about having Van Hecke's Brighton colleague Bart Verbruggen fit to start between the posts. The goalkeeper recently sustained a hip injury in his nation's final World Cup warm-up fixture against Uzbekistan.