Tottenham lead £70m transfer race with Chelsea and Liverpool as opening bid rejected

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Tottenham have made an approach to Roberto De Zerbi's former club Brighton for one of their star players, who also has Premier League big guns Liverpool and Chelsea tracking himTottenham have had an opening bid for Jan Paul van Hecke turned down by Brighton. Chelsea and Liverpool have also been noted as other interested parties.Van Hecke, who has just one year remaining on his Brighton contract, is the latest defender to be linked with Tottenham.

Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook pageAnd the former Blackburn Rovers loannee has been touted for a move to Spurs by ex-midfielder Sandro, who also has a close relationship with De Zerbi."They are talking about Marcos Senesi, at Bournemouth, but I really like the defender from Brighton, Van Hecke. He's good on the ball, he played with De Zerbi before too," said Sandro, speaking exclusively to Reach PLC via Ivy Casino."He's not only good on the ball, but he can be very aggressive and in a way that he’s not stupid, he's not doing crazy things without the ball, but I think he's mature."For me, Van Hecke is ready.

He's ready to play because he played under De Zerbi and he showed that he can play in the moment, that he's mature, and we need players that are already mature. I think we are now going to the market and have to buy players that are ready."Sandro's fellow countrymen Savinho is also a target for Spurs with Manchester City set for a new era.