football.london’s writers debate whether Tottenham Hotspur should keep or sell Luka Vuskovic, who has been heavily linked with a move away this summer
Tottenham Hotspur have a huge decision to make over the future of talented defender Luka Vuskovic.
The 19-year-old signed for Spurs when he was just 16 years old, joining from Hajduk Split in a deal believed to be worth around £12million. But the Croatian did not officially join the north Londoners until last year after he had turned 18.
Vuskovic, who is part of Croatia’s World Cup 2026 squad, is regarded as one of the best emerging defenders in world football and impressed on loan at Hamburg last season. It’s believed a number of clubs are tracking the teenager ahead of the summer transfer window, with it being reported on Friday that Brighton & Hove Albion have made a £30million offer.
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With Roberto De Zerbi now at the helm, Vuskovic’s future at the club is unclear. Cristian Romero has been linked with a move away but Spurs have been pursuing Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke, and have already signed Marcos Senesi.
So, should Tottenham keep Vuskovic? Or should they look to cash in on the defender? football.london’s writers have their say, below!
Sam Truelove
Luka Vuskovic is certainly a decent player who could, one day, develop into a world class talent. Micky van de Ven will be Spurs’ left-sided centre-back next season and it’s just a matter of who will partner the Dutchman.
Cristian Romero looks likely to leave but Roberto De Zerbi seems intent on signing Jan Paul van Hecke, which would probably make Vuskovic the third-choice centre-back at the club. Vuskovic needs to play and I see his situation extremely similar to that of William Saliba a few years ago.
Despite Arsenal fans crying out for Saliba to play, Mikel Arteta sent the Frenchman (then aged 19) on loan to Nice and then to Marseille. Those minutes proved invaluable and the defender came back to Emirates Stadium a different beast.
Vuskovic should follow a similar path, I believe. Tottenham should not sell the defender this summer but instead look to loan him out. Whether that is to a Premier League side like Brighton is another question, but the Seagulls certainly do have a knack of improving players.
Verdict: Loan move
Jake Stokes
Luka Vuskovic should go out on loan next season. The 19-year-old defender would be a brilliant addition to the Tottenham Hotspur squad next season, but Roberto De Zerbi needs to steady the ship before he, or the club, begin to integrate any exciting young players.
Next season, the Lilywhites will no doubt be heavily scrutinised as they look to qualify for one of UEFA’s three club competitions. The Spurs boss and his players will be under immense pressure to deliver results and, ultimately, avoid another relegation battle.
Although Vuskovic would bolster De Zerbi’s options at the back, he wouldn’t be afforded the freedom to continue his development at the same rate while learning from his mistakes. Back at Hamburg, for example, the teenager, who was a fan favourite, could pick up from where he left off and relish his somewhat talismanic role.
Meanwhile, Tottenham could bring in Jan Paul van Hecke, as well as a few other Premier League-proven players, and steady the ship. In an ideal world, De Zerbi will still be in charge with European football under his belt; Vuskovic can then hit the ground running in a settled team that doesn’t feel like it’s in a constant state of emergency or panic.
Verdict: Loan move
Alasdair Gold
Spurs have made some utterly daft transfer decisions over the years but selling Luka Vuskovic might just sit at the top of the tree.
After the season he’s had, £30million is a drop in the ocean compared to what the teenage Croatian’s value has soared to after a year in which he finished in the Bundesliga Team of the Year with the likes of Harry Kane.
One can only hope it’s part of Brighton’s gameplan to get more money out of Tottenham for Van Hecke, because even contemplating selling one of the top young defensive talents in the game right now before he’s even pulled on the shirt for the club would be remarkable.
If Spurs get Van Hecke then Vuskovic will not play enough football so a loan move makes far more sense, even if there’s an argument for getting him involved now rather than signing the Dutchman. However, the 26-year-old was arguably De Zerbi’s most successful project at Brighton with the rapid improvements he made so the Italian knows what he can bring while the Croatian is yet to work with him.
That doesn’t mean Spurs should jettison Vuskovic now for someone else to gain. Brighton could flip him within a year at that price and double their money.
Arsenal showed with William Saliba’s three loans that you can be patient with centre-backs and now they are reaping the rewards. Tottenham must do the same.
Verdict: Loan move
