Apparently not since this guy isn’t in it!
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Sorry, haha. Meant Arsenal. I’d be happier if he stayed, though. 
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Hopefully not :), but van Hecke is slowly gaining his place under Koeman.He played in both of their friendlies /in March/, starting against Norway /next to van Dijk/ and coming in for the injured Frimpong agains Ecuador. He is definitely part of this new core of the Netherlands and will be at the World Cup, if he is healthy. He played mainly as a substitute in their qualifiers /October and November 2025/, for example against Poland /20 minutes/, Finland /30 minutes/. He is still behind Timber /Koeman prefers to play him as a central defender, next to Van Dijk/ and they have a solid group of defenders - Van Dijk, Timber, van den Ven /used mostly as a left back/, de Ligt /
/, Ake, Gertrudia, Dumfries.
Van den Hecke is still only 25 years old, his contract expires in the summer of 2027 and no signs that he will sign a new contract. He can be a nasty bastard on the pitch, plays regularly for an offensive team using high defensive line /does not lack a speed too/, solid in the air and if Konate does not sign a new contract he could be a good option and probably relatively cheap /something like MacAllister/. But I will be surprised, if we sign him in case Ibous signs a new contract with LFC. There will be more pressing issues in our squad, if we have 4 centrald defenders in Konate, van Dijk, Jacquet, Leoni.
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Seriously. You have to stop this. It’s getting ridiculous.
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I do wonder whether a move for Van Den Hecke now, if true, is in part because both Jacquet and Leoni are coming off injuries and still both relatively young?
Can Jacquet also play as a defensive midfielder?
Can Van Hecke play as a fullback, too? I saw @MarcusBerglund mentioning that he came on for Frimpong in some Netherlands game, that versatility would be a nice bonus if he signs for Liverpool.
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It would be magic if he is great with the ball that’s at other people’s feet
thats him off Slots list then…
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Don’t think you spend £75m on two of the most highly rated young CBs in the game and then expect one of them to be your 5th choice.
If Konate signs a new deal we already have five options including Gomez. Only way we go after another CB is if both Konate and Gomez leave. If Konate stays and Gomez goes I’d hope we’d be after more of a right-back.
Hopefully the club will have both Leoni and Jacquet available for preseason. As far as I remember there were news that the Italian will be ready at the end of this season. While I am not sure if this elbow injury will prevent Jacquet from being ready for the start of preseason.
As far as I know Jacquet has not played as a defensive midfielder for Rennes, but I am not sure, if he has been used as a midfielder, while on loan at Clermont /2024-2025/. I still think that if Konate signs a new contract, we will not sign another central defender, but in the summer of 2027 with van Dijk’s contract expiring and van Hecke’s contract also expiring…
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Yes, he can play as a full back, but this is not his best position. He also has experience playing in a system with 3 central defenders, with Dunk central and van Hecke mostly on the right side of the defence.
P.S If the club replaces Slot with Alonso /yeah, sadly sounds like sci fi/, then the signing of another center back will look justified. Especially taking into account that Jacquet and van Hecke have experience in playing in a back 3.
Then it could easly be: GK; van Hecke /right central defender/, van Dijk /left central defender/, Konate; Frimpong /right wing back/, Kerkez /left wing back/; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Wirtz; Isak;
Other options- Leoni, Jacquet, Bradley, Tsimikas, new midfielder, Elliott, Gakpo, Ngumoha.
Sales - Alisson, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa
Free transfers - Robbo, Salah
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I’m believing random Dutch bloke over teamtalk
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Haha so true.
Geert van YouTube
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I wouldn’t see vHecke being used at RB, especially not at the top level. That would be only in real emergency. And even that’s pushing it. From what I see, he’s played 6 times there, but a long time ago when he was young in the Netherlands. He’s a CB.
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Seems like it LOL. Rather Dutch than Italian…
Basically an Alonso and a Mascherano
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Its not when he misses 20 games a season injured
Genuinely. Or Thiago and Fabinho.
They´re not stylistically the same as Masch and Alonso but they perform the same basic function. One controls the game with the ball and brings the attackers into the game in good areas, and the other protects the back four and keeps things tight.
No more jack of all trades running around (or not running) but not excelling at either of those two functions.
I’d take another Fabinho for sure because we need a mobile monster but not so much Thiago as that function is what I want to see from Wirtz. I would prefer a highly physical, fast, loud leader type, like Hendo tbh who was under-rated. We seem directionless and under-motivated in midfield. And if he can pick an early pass then all well and good.