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Tottenham Hotspur have had two offers turned down for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, but fellow Dutchman Micky van de Ven has confirmed that the two have spoken during the World Cup.

Van de Ven shared that he discussed Tottenham with Van Hecke, as the north London club prepare to submit a third bid for the Brighton centre-back. The 23-year-old defender is believed to be open to reuniting with his former Brighton manager, Roberto De Zerbi, who recently took charge at Spurs.

Brighton’s chief executive Paul Barber stated on Sunday that Tottenham are not the only club showing interest in the Dutch defender, who reportedly carries a £70 million price tag.

According to reports from the Netherlands on Sunday evening, Van Hecke is giving preference to Tottenham’s interest over other potential suitors. One Dutch outlet even claimed that personal terms between the player and Spurs have already been settled.

Currently, Van Hecke is with the Netherlands national team in the United States as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup. His international teammate, Micky van de Ven, confirmed that they had a conversation about what life at Tottenham is like.

Speaking at a press conference in White Plains, near New York, Van de Ven said, “I did talk to Jan Paul briefly about Tottenham. I think it is a good step for him.”

Van Hecke is reportedly eager to finalise his club future before the World Cup begins on Thursday, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.

The Netherlands are set to start their World Cup campaign against Japan on Sunday.

Oranje head coach Ronald Koeman emphasised that he does not want transfer matters to disrupt his players’ focus. He told reporters, “Ideally, I would prefer a player to have peace of mind regarding his club, and that there is clarity about the future. But I cannot stop it.”