Jan Paul van Hecke has told Tottenham to wait. The Brighton defender says any clarity on his club future will probably come after the World Cup, even though he has already made over 130 appearances for the club since joining in 2020. He also said his focus is on the Netherlands on Sunday and on playing the tournament as well as possible.

Why the transfer answer is being delayed

Van Hecke was clear about the timing. Speaking to sportsmole.co.uk, he said: "That’s not for now, that’s more after the World Cup. I will then see where I play." He also added that he wanted clarity for himself before the tournament, but said he has that clarity already and that the decision will come later.

That leaves Tottenham still chasing a defender who is not offering an immediate answer. Brighton are reported to value him at around £70m, and Tottenham have reportedly had two bids rejected. Those figures help explain why this is still a stand-off rather than a done deal.

The injury only adds to the focus on international duty

Van Hecke also picked up significant swelling to his right eye after a collision in the Netherlands’ World Cup draw with Japan. He said the injury affected his vision and that he could not see very well on that side, though he still completed the full 90 minutes.

His recent World Cup rating was 7.5 in 94 minutes, a useful reminder that he is still performing while carrying the transfer noise. A run of 6.8 across his last five Brighton appearances points to the same thing, steady enough form to keep the attention on him, but not enough to force a decision before the tournament ends.

Brighton’s own market position is strong too. They finished 8th in the Premier League with 53 points, while Tottenham finished 17th with 41 points. That is why the asking price is high and why Brighton are not under pressure to move quickly.

For now, Van Hecke has put the club talk on ice. Tottenham may come back after the World Cup, but his own timeline is clear enough, and the next update is likely to come only when the tournament is over.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →