Ex-Sunderland and Blackburn transfer target set to sign new deal at Premier League club

Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke was a transfer target for Sunderland last summer.
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Former Sunderland target Jan Paul van Hecke looks set to sign a new contract at Brighton next month.

The 23-year-old centre-back was on the Black Cats’ radar last summer but wasn’t allowed to leave on loan.

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Van Hecke, who was also a target for Blackburn following a loan spell at Ewood Park, went on to make eight Premier League appearances for Brighton during the 2022/23 season.

The defender’s contract was set to expire at the end of June, yet Brighton have triggered their one-year option to extend the deal.

According to the Athletic, van Hecke is also set to sign a new contract with the Premier League club, following his involvement in the European Under-21 Championships with the Netherlands.

Sunderland have already bolstered their centre-back options this summer after completing the signing of Nectarios Triantis from Australian side Central Coast Mariners, despite interest from a number of UK clubs.

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