'Slot convinced me' - Liverpool to sign €42m Premier League ace?

Willem Leijgraf

Updated: 13 Sept 2025 12:47 BST
4 min read

Arne Slot spent a hefty sum at Liverpool this summer, but there is still more business to be done, and he has his sights set on an old acquaintance.

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According to CaughtOffside, the Dutch manager is interested in Jan Paul van Hecke of Brighton. Slot was already infatuated with the Netherlands international during his time as manager of Feyenoord, but he never made it to De Kuip.

Liverpool certainly weren't idle in the transfer market this summer. The English club spent nearly €485 million in total, splashing a whopping €145m on Alexander Isak.

Current ETV

Jan Paul van Hecke

D (C)

Brighton

Jan Paul van Hecke

D (C)

Brighton

ETV Range

€37.7M - €46.1M

They also acquired Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for €125m. And it didn't stop there, as Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Giovanni Leoni all arrived for exorbitant fees.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are already looking ahead to next year after missing out on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who can negotiate a pre-contract with non-English clubs in January.

According to the latest reports, Slot has Van Hecke back in his sights. However, the Reds aren't the only suitors for the 25-year-old central defender, who is contracted to Brighton until 2027. Newcastle and Tottenham are also targeting Van Hecke.

Slot tried to sign Van Hecke at Feyenoord

Slot had previously been close to signing Van Hecke, but at the time, Brighton refused to do business with Feyenoord despite the player's desire to make the move.

"Slot had called me a few times. We had some really good conversations, and he convinced me to come to Feyenoord," Van Hecke recalled to Voetbal International in 2023.

"The club didn't want it, and for a reason. You can make up your mind, but it's not going to happen." Van Hecke also revealed that Slot, then in charge of AZ, had already been sniffing around him while he was still a youngster at NAC Breda in 2019.

Van Hecke has since become a reliable defender in the Premier League at Brighton, where he has seen his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) rise to €41.9 million.

Last season, Van Hecke made 39 appearances for the Seagulls. It remains to be seen whether Brighton will part ways with Van Hecke in the winter or whether he'll be able to enjoy the full season.

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