Tottenham Hotspur have not won a single game in the 2026/27 Premier League season thus far, and they were bounce out of the League Cup already. There is a lot to criticize about this team, even as Spurs fans who actually watch the club every weekend understand that there has been tangible progress under Roberto De Zerbi.
The new additions this summer transfer window have arrived with a lot of optimism, but, overall, most have yet to make their mark. But Savio has been one of the leaders in the Premier League in dribbles completed and chances created despite the malaise of the attack. As impressive as he has been, though, it is a different new Tottenham signing who has emerged as one of the best players in the Premier League already.
According to Gradient Sports, Tottenham Hotspur center back Jan Paul van Hecke has been the 8th best player in the Premier League after five Matchdays this season. He is above big stars like Martin Odegaard and Cody Gakpo, as well as rising stars like Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson in making it that high on the list. The top five includes Bukayo Saka, Rayan Cherki, Noah Okafor, Marc Guehi, and transfer target Neco Williams.
Jan Paul van Hecke has been even better than Luka Vuskovic
Van Hecke has been criticized a bit because the player Spurs lost in order for Roberto De Zerbi to reunite with him, Luka Vuskovic, is one of the best young players in the world and has been excellent to start the season.
But while Vuskovic is one of Gradient Sports's best rated center backs in his own right, the Croatian international is still nowhere near the top 10 and does not even rank in the top 40 of the players Gradient provided to the public.
Now, that does not mean Luka Vuskovic has not been a great player for Brighton thus far, but it does mean that Tottenham should not be upset that they signed Jan Paul van Hecke, whose progressive passing numbers on Gradient have been the best of any player in any position when looking at the overall analytics of how he is moving the ball.
Van Hecke is a huge reason why Tottenham are dominating possession and playing better overall, and if the fullbacks, forwards, and attacking midfielders on the Lilywhites were better, Van Hecke's elite work in possession - and his great defensive work in most games, too - would be getting recognized a lot more.
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