If it wasn’t apparent enough that Newcastle United desperately needs to improve its squad depth, then it certainly is now as we sit two weeks away from the return of Premier League football.
With just over two weeks until the season opener against Aston Villa, Anthony Elanga remains the only confirmed senior signing this window.
Eddie Howe has been let down massively by those above him, with the squad still short of a much-needed centre-back, at least one midfielder and two strikers, especially if Alexander Isak is to leave.
Now, according to a new report from the Netherlands, the club are continuing to pursue a deal for a certain Brighton defender.
Dutch publication Voetbal International report that Newcastle are still in the mix to sign Brighton defender Jan Paul Van Hecke this summer.
The 25-year-old enjoyed another solid season with the Seagulls, and it’s claimed that Newcastle have been in contact with Brighton over the last week, enquiring about his availability after the defender has refused to sign a new deal.
Spurs are also said to be tracking Van Hecke, who is open to leaving for Champions League football and reportedly valued at £43m.
Voetbal reveal that a 7.5% sell-on clause was included in his contract when the Dutchman signed from NAC Breda back in 2020, which may impact any negotiations we may have with Brighton.
However, with the player not interested in signing a new deal and now in the final two years of his deal, it may be one to watch if Newcastle do not press on with their attempts to sign AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw.
As good as Van Hecke’s compatriot Sven Botman is, it may be wise for Howe to pursue more than one defender in the next month, with the former Lille star struggling to stay fit since returning from a long ACL absence earlier this year.
This isn’t the first time we’ve been linked with the Brighton star, with discussions between Newcastle and the player’s agent touted back in June.
There’s a common theme in a lot of our top transfer targets: that being that many dream of playing Champions League football and have two or less years left on their current deal.
We’ve seen it already with Yoane Wissa, with the Brentford forward so committed to making the switch to St James’ Park that he is threatening to boycott training with the Bees unless he is sold.
Van Hecke has similarly aspirations, and it seems that Brighton’s plans to extend his contract at the club will fail because of it.
“Van Hecke dreams of playing in the Champions League and believes that won’t happen at Brighton,” Voetbal report.
Unlike Wisssa, however, the story states that he will not force a move away from the Amex, although we thought that about Isak until the bright lights and big money was thrown his way!
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