Newcastle United have suffered a massive blow in their pursuit of Brighton defensive mainstay Jan Paul van Hecke.

Newcastle United are interested in acquiring the services of Jan Paul van Hecke, and they could make a move for him in January. But, according to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, Brighton won’t let him leave mid-season; they will reject any bids for the Dutch international at the turn of the calendar.

Jan Paul van Hecke won’t leave in January

While speaking on the Inside Track podcast, the transfer expert said, “Nothing’s going to happen in January with Van Hecke. He’ll remain at Brighton, I’m sure of that. We know Brighton are such good sellers of players, as well as tough negotiators, and it would take a big, big fee for them to sell Van Hecke. For now, it seems he’s happy at Brighton.”

Jan Paul van Hecke has been a part of the Brighton setup since 2020. After a few loan spells away from the club in the initial years, he eventually managed to establish himself as a key part of their first team. Of late, the 25-year-old has only gone from strength to strength and is one of their mainstays at the back.

The Dutchman’s consistent performances have helped him break into the Netherlands national team, and it has also resulted in a lot of interest from across Europe. Newcastle United are one of the clubs that are very keen on signing the former NAC Breda defender.

Newcastle United want to sign van Hecke

The Magpies pushed for the signature of Marc Guehi during the summer transfer window, but he was not really keen on joining them. As a result, Newcastle United ended up signing Malick Thiaw. While his arrival does add a lot of quality, Eddie Howe still seeks more depth at the back.

With Dan Burn and Fabian Schar in the final phase of their career, Howe wants to build for the future, and Jan Paul van Hecke could prove to be a valuable addition to their squad. The Magpies are willing to try their luck mid-season with the 25-year-old entering the final two years of his deal.

The Dutch international has already turned down multiple renewal offers from Brighton & Hove Albion, which suggests he is ready to take the next step. But van Hecke is not pushing for a move away just yet, and the Seagulls certainly won’t want to lose him mid-season.

The Seagulls are known to be very tough to negotiate with and will surely demand a huge fee to let go of one of their top players. While a winter move is off the table, his future will be one to watch ahead of next summer.