J P van Hecke

[metalgear]

Thfc ...to dare is to dream!
We're the club of false hopes and new dawns
Never fails to surprise me even after decades of supporting spurs

This brush with relegation might end up being the best thing to happen at the club since Poch.

 

[metalgear]

It's a lot to pay for on an area where we are stacked.

New AM and front three or I will be disappointed!

 

[Eriktheviking]

It's a lot to pay for on an area where we are stacked.

New AM and front three or I will be disappointed!

Not if Romero leaves and we want to play 3 at the back next season....

 

[DubaiSpur]

I've been thinking about what this transfer reminds me of, and I think I've got it - it reminds me of Redknapp's first transfer window, in January 2009.

What struck me at the time was just how un-Spurs-like it was. After years of Comolli's data driven transfer strategy, and Levy's predilection for buying promising young players over experienced ones in their prime, January 2009 rolled around with us still in and around the relegation fight. And we just went wild - in that one month alone, we resigned Defoe, resigned Keane, signed Wilson Palacios, and spent a total of 50 million quid building a battle-ready side that Redknapp could steer to safety.

Van Hecke is the sort of signing Levy and ENIC would have baulked at in the past. 52m for a center-back in the last year of his contract, who while good at passing, isn't actually all that great at defending. There is better value on the continent, 100%.

But it isn't about caution anymore. We are in a moment where we have handed de Zerbi unprecedented control, and he wants van Hecke - a Premier League-ready lieutenant on the field, a player he trusts to lead his defense and transmit his tactical instructions. And the club has decided to just go and get him who he wants - if it takes 52m, it takes 52m.

The last time the club did this, Redknapp saved us in 2009, and what followed was a rip-roaring adventure none of us could have predicted.

Will be super interesting to see where this leads, and if it continues!

 

[Gazza]

I've been thinking about what this transfer reminds me of, and I think I've got it - it reminds me of Redknapp's first transfer window, in January 2009.

What struck me at the time was just how un-Spurs-like it was. After years of Comolli's data driven transfer strategy, and Levy's predilection for buying promising young players over experienced ones in their prime, January 2009 rolled around with us still in and around the relegation fight. And we just went wild - in that one month alone, we resigned Defoe, resigned Keane, signed Wilson Palacios, and spent a total of 50 million quid building a battle-ready side that Redknapp could steer to safety.

Van Hecke is the sort of signing Levy and ENIC would have baulked at in the past. 52m for a center-back in the last year of his contract, who while good at passing, isn't actually all that great at defending. There is better value on the continent, 100%.

But it isn't about caution anymore. We are in a moment where we have handed de Zerbi unprecedented control, and he wants van Hecke - a Premier League-ready lieutenant on the field, a player he trusts to lead his defense and transmit his tactical instructions. And the club has decided to just go and get him who he wants - if it takes 52m, it takes 52m.

The last time the club did this, Redknapp saved us in 2009, and what followed was a rip-roaring adventure none of us could have predicted.

Will be super interesting to see where this leads, and if it continues!

Let the relegation dog fight commence!

 

[metalgear]

Not if Romero leaves and we want to play 3 at the back next season....

if we are paying 52 for van hecke i would expect >80 for romero !

 

[DubaiSpur]

Let the relegation dog fight commence!

I'll take being safe by matchday 37 this time.

 

[demotw]

It's a lot to pay for on an area where we are stacked.

New AM and front three or I will be disappointed!

I doubt that will be an issue, for now at least.

I imagine that Senesi, Robertson and Van Hecke in for 52m, With Romero or VDV (60m) and Dragusin (20m) out gives us a net +28m to play with, assuming we also dont try to offload the likes of Phillips or Danso if we deem Vuskovic ready as backup.

Midfield if Tonali is genuine then 80m out for him, With Soloman (15m), Sarr (30m), Devine (10m) out still puts us at +3m overall.

Tried to be realistic with the fees, but the point is I am not sure if we have really moved into a negative net spend area assuming the expected outgoings are inline with what people expect. Obviously if we are replacing both VDV and Romero then we have even more room.

 

[lurker of old]

Van Hecke isn't confirmed yet - is there any chance the journos have gone early or is this one a definite?

 

[SirPercyHotspur]

Van Hecke isn't confirmed yet - is there any chance the journos have gone early or is this one a definite?

BBC are reporting it as done with article by Alex Bysouth , they don't normally publish like that if the transfer is in doubt but until it appears on the club website could still fall through.

PS And a full page by Simon Stone on the Beeb website.

 

[WillWeEverBeGoodAgain]

Van Hecke isn't confirmed yet - is there any chance the journos have gone early or is this one a definite?

If Ornstein says it's done, it's done

 

[clownfoot]

Van Hecke isn't confirmed yet - is there any chance the journos have gone early or is this one a definite?

Read yesterday that quite a few signing announcements are likely to be delayed until July 1st because of the new SCR rules replacing PSR. Helps the next years finances apparently and the cut off is then

 

[Ace Face]

Also doubt he has completed his medical since he had that face injury vs Japan. I imagine they will want the swelling to go down to assess for any long term vision problems.