Brighton are bracing for a second Tottenham approach for centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke after dismissing their opening £70m offer. The Seagulls have made it clear they won't be bullied into a quick sale, with chief executive Paul Barber now overseeing transfers following Jason Ayto's departure.

Van Hecke, 25, earned his place in Netherlands' World Cup squad after establishing himself as Brighton's defensive cornerstone. The Dutchman has featured 131 times for the club, including 36 Premier League starts last season. His rise from NAC Breda in 2020 has been meteoric, with loan spells at Heerenveen and Blackburn paving the way for regular top-flight football.

New Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi is driving the pursuit, keen to reunite with a player he knows well from their time together at the Amex Stadium. Brighton's track record of extracting maximum value is evident - they've sold Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro for fees exceeding £50m apiece in recent windows.

With Van Hecke entering his final contract year, Brighton likely have a price in mind that reflects both his international status and proven Premier League pedigree. The defender's potential exit would leave a significant hole in a backline that has become increasingly difficult to penetrate under successive managers.