Third time lucky? Arne Slot tries again to sign ideal centre-back

There is significant uncertainty around Liverpool’s centre-back sector ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

Ibrahima Konate has still not renewed his contract while Joe Gomez could be sold with his deal running out in 2027.

Although Richard Hughes and Arne Slot have sorted incoming deals for Jeremy Jacquet and other young centre-backs there is a danger that the Premier League champions will be left light on experienced options.

Giovanni Leoni has missed practically the entire season with injury and it would be harsh to ask the teenage Italian to step into the breach right from the outset.

Accordingly Liverpool need a more seasoned option - and now it appears that Slot is going to try signing Jan Paul van Hecke for the third time in his career.

Arne Slot to try again for Van Hecke

Voetbal International is reporting that following attempts to bring the Dutch international to both AZ and Feyenoord the 47-year-old is going to try again this summer.

Van Hecke, 25, has grown into a key first-team player for Brighton but the danger for the south coast side is that he is out of contract in 2027.

Liverpool could therefore secure the central defender on a knockdown fee this summer - with Van Hecke currently refusing to sign a new deal. “

Jan Paul van Hecke (25) is a major candidate to strengthen Liverpool this summer,” the report reads.

“Multiple sources confirmed to VI that both parties are in contact.”

Jan Paul van Hecke: Situation summary

Jan Paul van Hecke has developed into a key starter for Brighton, evolving from a prospect signed from NAC Breda in 2020 into a Netherlands international and one of the Premier League’s more complete centre-backs.

Now 25, he combines size and aggression with calm on the ball, having previously impressed on loans at Heerenveen and Blackburn.

Under Brighton’s positional play coaches, he has become central to first-phase build-up, regularly topping team figures for passes and progressive distribution while also carrying the ball out to break pressure.

Defensively, he is a front-foot, high-line defender: strong in duels, proactive in stepping in front of strikers and confident defending space behind, which suits sides who want to hold territory and compress the pitch.

That blend of bravery and composure has seen him trusted to cover for Lewis Dunk and even assume leadership responsibilities when required.

Contractually, Brighton extended his deal to 2027, but multiple reports indicate he has stalled on further renewals, meaning he is set to enter his final year this summer.

Brighton are unlikely to risk losing him cheaply or for free, so a sale in 2026 is increasingly probable, with Champions League-chasing clubs in England monitoring him and fees in the £40–45m bracket being discussed.

Given his profile as a ball-playing, high-line centre-back, a move to a possession-dominant side in the Premier League or continental Europe feels his most likely next step.

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