Tottenham are trying to sign the Netherlands centre-back but one of the club’s former stars believes the price tag is far too high
Tottenham icon Rafael van der Vaart believes that the price tag being quoted for Jan Paul van Hecke is far too high.
Spurs are trying to reunite head coach Roberto De Zerbi with his former Brighton centre-back and have had a couple of bids rejected by the Seagulls, who reportedly value Van Hecke at around £70million, despite the Dutchman having only 12 months left on his contract.
The south coast side have attempted to get Tottenham’s young defensive star Luka Vuskovic with a £30million bid of their own for the 19-year-old Croatian.
Van Hecke is away with the Netherlands at the World Cup and said ahead of his country’s game against Japan on Sunday: “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 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 I make that step, then it’s clear to everyone.”
FOLLOW OUR TOTTENHAM FB PAGE! Latest Spurs news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Van der Vaart, who was a popular figure for Spurs fans after 46 goal involvements in 77 matches for the north London club, has weighed in with his opinion on the move for his compatriot.
“I have to be honest, I am a fan of Van Hecke, but when I hear about 80m euros for Van Hecke, my football heart cries,” the 43-year-old he said on the Ziggo Sport podcast Wes & Raf, as translated by Sport Witness.
“Those are amounts that don’t belong with this type of player. That nearly relegated Tottenham Hotspur is willing to pay that, I find that to be a very large sum of money. But you don’t look surprised. It is the times, I know that. But anyway…”
