Brighton and Hove Albion turn down Spurs' van Hecke bids

But they expect ongoing and widespread interest to continue through the summer.

The centre-back is in the USA with Holland ahead of a World Cup in which he is expected to play a key role alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Van Hecke is out of contract next summer and, other than free agents, has always looked the most likely of the Seagulls' senior players to depart.

But Paul Barber, the club's chief executive and deputy chairman, appeared to send out a message to suitors of van Hecke and others that there would be competition and that the price and timing for any deal would have to be right.

He also underlined the club's commitment to give head coach Fabian Hurzeler what he needs to fight on domestic and European fronts next season.

If van Hecke is to leave, Albion would love that to be after bidding war.

Barber said: “There is always going to be a lot of interest in our best players and certainly in the case of Jan Paul.

“We have been very clear, that interest has been ongoing for a while. It is coming from multiple sources.

“Yes, we have rejected a bid from Tottenham over the last week or so, in fact two bids.

“It has to be right for us as well as for the player.

“We have to make the best trade to suit our model and also to make sure we are supporting Fabian.

“He has got another big season ahead of him.

“He has had two seasons in the Premier League, he has finished eighth on both occasions.

“This time we have been fortunate enough to qualify for a European competition and we want to go as deep as we can in that competition while also doing well in the Premier League.

“To do that we need to make sure Fabian has got the best possible squad and we have got the right balance between the young players that typically we like to bring in and develop and the more experienced players like Pascal Gross and others who can actually help us progress in all the competitions we are in.”

Barber was speaking to TalkSPORT’s Sunday Edition programme.