Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic has been attracting interest from several European clubs, but Brighton have made the first move.
Luka Vuskovic’s future at Tottenham Hotspur has come to the fore this summer after a highly successful loan spell with SV Hamburger in the Bundesliga. He was named the Bundesliga’s young player of the campaign, which yielded an impressive six goals in 28 appearances. More importantly, it has elevated the teenager’s status across Europe.
Regarded as one of the best emerging defensive talents in world football, Luka Vuskovic, Tottenham’s second-most-valuable-player has been largely expected to return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season to fight for a place under Roberto De Zerbi. However, it looks like he has different plans.
Brighton and Hove Albion submit £30 million bid for Luka Vuskovic
According to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, Brighton and Hove Albion have launched a £30million bid to sign Vuskovic from Tottenham. The central defender is favouring a move to the Amex Stadium and sees it as the best next step for his development.
The 19-year-old, who is currently with the Croatia squad at the World Cup, has a mutual trust with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler and vice versa. Hurzeler has shown an eye to develop young talents in his embryonic managerial career, and Vuskovic is understood to want to become a part of his Brighton squad.
Brighton’s bid for the Croatian international comes amid Tottenham’s pursuit of defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Roberto De Zerbi clearly has prioritised rebuilding the defence after last season’s disastrous show. He has already overseen the signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers. The Italian wants to add depth to his team’s defensive unit by bringing in Van Hecke. His club have seen two bids rejected by Brighton for the Dutch defender, who is entering the final year of his contract.
Tottenham could reject Brighton’s opening bid for Vuskovic
In response, the Seagulls have tabled a £30million offer to sign Vuskovic. They have long made a habit out of signing young talent before moulding them into big stars, and the south coast side’s plans with Vuskovic remain the same. This should be worrying for the Tottenham supporters who have watched the lanky Croat develop into one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders without ever representing the Lilywhites.
Spurs consider Vuskovic a foundation pillar of their long-term sporting project and are in no rush to let him go, with the player under contract in North London until June 2030. Brighton would guarantee him first-team football if Van Hecke moves to N17, which is the biggest appealing point to a 19-year-old desperate for regular minutes to grow and fulfil his high potential.
However, to offer £30million for one of the brightest defensive prospects in European football is a bit odd and likely to be deemed insufficient by Tottenham. If the North Londoners are ready to part ways with Vuskovic permanently, which will be a big shock for our fans, they must at least look to insert a buyback clause or a high sell-on percentage.