Tottenham are aiming to steal a march on their rivals and have kickstarted their summer recruitment drive by making an offer for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
The Seagulls value the Netherlands international at £70million and have rejected Spurs’ initial offer.
Roberto De Zerbi is hoping to add new blood to a squad that narrowly avoided relegation on the last day of the Premier League season and have finished 17th in each of the last two campaigns.
Three wins in the final five fixtures of another shambolic season suggested the former Brighton coach was on the right path following his appointment in March.
Last chance to sign up
This week is your last chance to get our seven-day guide to the World Cup sent directly to your inbox. 48 teams, 104 games, 1,248 players – we’ve got everything you need to know. Sign up now.
The north London club are under no illusion, however, at the size of the rebuilding work that needs to be undertaken and another underwhelming transfer window would set the club back even further.
Captain Cristian Romero appears almost certain to depart, while Van Hecke’s Netherland’s teammate, Micky Micky van de Ven, is also the subject of interest from various heavyweight European clubs.
Tottenham are on the verge of completing a deal for free agent, Marcos Senesi who has been a mainstay of Bournemouth’s success under Andoni Iraola.
De Zerbi would be keen to pair the Argentina international with Van Hecke, a player he struck up a close relationship during their time together at the Amex Stadium, according to The Telegraph.
Spurs are unlikely to have a clear run at the 25-year-old who has just a single year remaining on his contract and is set to be sold this summer with talks over an extension unlikely to materialise.
Both Liverpool and Chelsea are in the market for defensive reinforcements and are likely to rival Spurs for Van Hecke’s services.
Xabi Alonso’s status as manager, rather than head coach, means he will have a direct influence on Chelsea’s transfer targets and adding more experience to a backline that leaked goals last season will represent a priority.
Liverpool, meanwhile, who are set to confirm Iraola as Arne Slot’s successor imminently, are keen for a new cente-half to partner Virgil van Dijk with Ibrahima Konate now set to leave on a free and join Real Madrid.
Brighton are also on the lookout for a new sporting director after Jason Ayto left the club by mutual consent on Wednesday.
Ayto joined Brighton in September 2025 after more than a decade at Arsenal, where he worked in several technical roles.
Chairman Tony Bloom said: ‘I’d like to thank Jason for everything he has done for us, and to wish him well for the future.’
Technical director Mike Cave, reporting to chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber, will oversee all sporting areas of the club, working with the existing senior team.