--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-05-26T21:29:26.671Z last_updated: 2026-05-26T16:52:04+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/brighton/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXJndXMuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvMjYxNDA3Mzkucm9iZXJ0by1kZS16ZXJiaS13YW50cy1icmlnaHRvbi1tZW4tc3B1cnMtcmVidWlsZC8_cmVmPXJzcw --- # What to make of this predictable RDZ triple link with Albion stars? - **Source:** - **Published:** 26 May - **Club:** Brighton - **Original URL:** https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/26140739.roberto-de-zerbi-wants-brighton-men-spurs-rebuild/?ref=rss Brighton and Hove Albion FC Football Sport Roberto De Zerbi has vowed to rebuild Spurs after their narrow escape from relegation. And Albion fans will not be surprised to see him being linked with three of their players as the summer transfer window nears. De Zerbi is reported by The Independent to be eyeing Jan Paul van Hecke, Carlos Baleba and Bart Verbruggen as he looks to make use of Spurs’ riches. The North London club stayed up on the final day of the Premier League season by beating Everton 1-0. And, in a line which will have brought back memories of words soon after Albion crashed at AS Roma in the Europa League, De Zerbi said post-match: “For sure, we have to learn from the mistakes we have done this season.” Baleba, van Hecke and Verbruggen are all among players expected to attract interest this summer, with the former having been a target for Manchester United. Van Hecke has one year left on his Albion contract and head coach Fabian Hurzeler has said there will be open communication over how things stand for player and club. Baleba and Verbruggen are both committed until 2028. Albion fans will be aware that recently-appointed head coaches are often linked with players they had at previous clubs. But that does not mean it usually happens. This will be the first transfer window with De Zerbi in charge at Spurs. One recalls how he was reported to be looking at Shakhtar players, most notably Mykola Matviyenko, when he arrived in Sussex from Ukraine. But is likely van Hecke will be attracting some interest in the Prem. And it is also an easy leap to see that De Zerbi would like players who know his style as he looks to impose his gameplan during pre-season. Van Hecke started 26 Premier League games under De Zerbi in 2023-24 and all but one of their Europa League games. De Zerbi said then: “He is improving in an incredible way. He's actually older than his age. His level is high, higher than people think." But he seemed to have an even higher regard for on-loan Levi Colwill, who he tried to bring back from Chelsea in the summer of 2023. In terms of midfield, there is an argument that, if De Zerbi wants players who best fit his gameplan, he might be better off looking towards Naples and Billy Gilmour. Or maybe Merseyside and Alexis Mac Allister. Baleba started 15 league games under De Zerbi, coming off the bench 12 times, and never made an initial XI in Europe. Equally, the suggestion that Verbruggen could come in as a perfect fit for the RDZ style perhaps overlooks the fact he only became outright No.1 for the Italian in the closing weeks of 2023-24, possibly to help him ahead of that summer’s Euros. De Zerbi appeared to go for a horses-for-courses rotation approach in goal until that point, with Verbruggen and Jason Steele, and seemed to feel the latter was more adept at playing the ball out from the back. That is an area where Verbruggen has since improved. The 2023-24 season saw him start 21 league games for De Zerbi (including a run of ten out of 11 in the closing weeks) and just three of the eight Europa fixtures. The Independent noted: “There is naturally an acceptance they may not get all of those.” Elsewhere, Spurs have been reported to have an interest in another of De Zerbi’s former goalkeepers. They are said to be eyeing Anatolij Trubin, who emerged as a first-teamer under De Zerbi at Shakhtar. Gross admits to 'nervous' finale but is confident about Europe Mitoma starts road to recovery as his ex-coach asks, 'Why would God do this?' It's 'unbelievable' for Peacehaven as they win promotion play-off Trubin memorably scored with a last-gasp header for his current club Benfica against Real Madrid at the end of the Champions League group stage, a goal which knocked out De Zerbi’s Marseille. Spurs’ directors have pledged to give De Zerbi “the stability and investment needed at every level” to move the club forward on a long-term basis. Those who have watched events at some of the "big six" in recent times, notably in West London, will wonder what their definition of long-term turns out to be. But Spurs, including De Zerbi, will know it will not be easy to prise away any of Albion’s senior players unless Tony Bloom and colleagues are ready for them to go. Even then, it would take a sizeable fee.