Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement to sign Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke for a reported fee of £52 million. The deal marks the continued summer investment under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who is also targeting Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali as his next major signing.

Van Hecke, who has appeared 106 times in the Premier League since joining Brighton from Dutch club NAC Breda in 2020, previously played under De Zerbi at Brighton between 2022 and 2024. Tottenham reportedly needed to meet Brighton’s valuation after two earlier bids were rejected. The 21-year-old Netherlands international is currently participating in the World Cup.

The addition of Van Hecke may signal changes for Tottenham’s existing centre-back options. Luka Vuskovic, a 19-year-old Croatian defender who spent last season on loan with Hamburg in the Bundesliga, is seeking more regular playing time and is reportedly hesitant to accept another loan spell. Tottenham aims to retain Vuskovic and has offered him a new contract, but the player is considering a permanent transfer, with Brighton interested in securing his services. Spurs value Vuskovic significantly higher than Brighton’s last offer of £35 million for him.

Tottenham’s centre-back roster includes Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Cristian Romero, and Radu Dragusin, though Romero and Dragusin are expected to be sold this summer. The club has already secured two free transfers this window in the form of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively.

Beyond Van Hecke, Spurs are pursuing a high-profile move for Tonali, who is valued at around £100 million by Newcastle United. The 26-year-old Italy international is also a target for Manchester City and Arsenal. Despite Tottenham's failure to qualify for European competition after finishing 17th in the previous Premier League season, sources suggest Tonali is open to a move to North London.

Newcastle have not yet received official transfer offers for Tonali, whose contract runs until 2029 with an option for a further year. Club manager Eddie Howe has indicated a willingness to permit players to leave as he undertakes a squad overhaul. Tottenham’s potential acquisition of Tonali would eclipse the club’s previous transfer record, standing to surpass the £65 million paid for Dominic Solanke in January 2024.

In addition to the pursuit of Tonali, Tottenham are reportedly interested in Manchester City forward Savinho as part of their efforts to rebuild the squad ahead of the new season.