Updated: 8 May 2026 10:46 BST |
5 min read
Tottenham are ready to hand Luka Vuskovic a bumper new contract in a bid to fend off interest from Barcelona.
Recent results have put Spurs in the driver’s seat in the Premier League relegation battle. Their fate is now once again in their own hands, and planning for next season – as a top division club – is in full swing.
To avoid another disastrous campaign like this one and the last, Tottenham are ready to back Robert de Zerbi. There will be plenty of movement in the transfer market, but the club’s most important arrival may not be a new signing.
Wonderkid Vuskovic is set to return to the club after an impressive season-long loan at Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga, where he has confirmed that he is a potentially generational talent. The 19-year-old centre-back has enjoyed an outstanding campaign in Germany.
Naturally, though, his exploits have also attracted suitors, and it is not like Vuskovic is a new name on the European scene. He was already one of the most sought-after prospects on the continent when he began playing first-team football at 16.
Tottenham go all in on Vuskovic
The teenager is represented by superagent Pini Zahavi, who is known to have an exceptionally close relationship with Barcelona. He was recently in Catalunya to negotiate a new contract for Blaugrana boss Hansi Flick.
Naturally, Zahavi has offered Vuskovic to Barcelona. The LaLiga champions-elect are keen on signing the young defender, though it seems unlikely that they will be able to convince Spurs to sell unless the player starts actively agitating for a move.
According to Sky Germany, Tottenham are ready to do whatever it takes to keep Vuskovic and build their team around him. One way they hope to achieve this is by handing him a bumper new contract.
Despite being just 19 and having never played a competitive game for the club, Spurs are said to be willing to elevate Vuskovic to one of the club’s top earners with this new contract. He is in line for a “massive” pay rise, according to Florian Plettenberg.
Vuskovic has yet to make a final decision on his future, but staying in North London will surely look a lot more appealing than it did when Barcelona first expressed their interest earlier in the season.
The youngster is likely to become a guaranteed starter for Spurs as captain Cristian Romero appears to be definitely leaving, while Micky van de Ven could also depart. There are worse things for a 19-year-old than playing under De Zerbi in the Premier League while earning millions.
Analysis: Vuskovic better suited to Spurs than Barcelona
According to data from analytics firm SciSports, Vuskovic has been one of the best centre-backs in the Bundesliga, and this certainly matches the eye test. His physicality, reading of the game and overall defensive ability are remarkable for a 19-year-old.
A move to Barcelona, however, would be somewhat problematic, at least as long as Hansi Flick is in charge of the club. One of Vuskovic’s few weaknesses is defending in open space, especially up against quick attackers.
His good anticipation allows him to step up and play attackers offside when necessary, but occasionally doing this in the Bundesliga and doing it numerous times per game at Barcelona are two very different things.
Barcelona’s style of play, which often sees their defenders forced to chase down attackers who beat the offside trap, would exacerbate Vuskovic’s biggest shortcoming. He has been working with a personal trainer to improve his speed, but it remains a problematic aspect of his game.
This also shows up in the data. According to SciSports’ Career Advice tool, Barcelona only have a Club Fit rating of 66 out of 100 and the lowest possible score in the playstyle category.
Spurs, by contrast, have a rating of 77 – the fourth-best after Atletico Madrid, Newcastle and Real Sociedad – and a playstyle rating of four out of a possible five stars.
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