Tottenham have been accused of 'total neglect' by ex-player Ramon Vega after making a 'wrong decision' about in-form talent Luka Vuskovic.
Spurs' defensive crisis has dominated headlines recently with Thomas Frank's side languishing in 14th position after a nightmare first half of the campaign.
The north Londoners tried addressing their backline issues in January, pursuing multiple targets, including Liverpool's Andy Robertson and Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano, with the latter promptly agreeing a contract extension until 2030 instead.
Spurs ended the window having landed Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid and left-back Souza for the senior team, but their defensive recruitment fell woefully short of what's needed.
Meanwhile, one of their most promising young centre-backs continues shining elsewhere on loan, raising serious questions about Tottenham's planning and development pathway.
Vuskovic has been absolutely sensational during his spell at Hamburg in the Bundesliga.
The 18-year-old joined Spurs from Hajduk Split back in September 2023 for around £13 million, but immediately got loaned straight back to the Croatian giants.
After successive loan spells at Polish side Radomiak Radom and Westerlo in Belgium, Vuskovic has now established himself as one of the Bundesliga's standout defensive performers, anchoring Hamburg regularly and showcasing maturity well beyond his years.
The towering centre-back combines excellent technical ability with physical dominance, making him perfect for modern football's demands.
Vuskovic has even attracted real praise from Bayern Munich and Germany legend Lothar Matthäus, who called him a rare talent and 'intelligent' player.
"It's not just about winning headers and tackles or scoring goals: he's somebody who can organise a defence. That's something you find very rarely," Matthäus told Sky Sports Germany.
"He's 18 years old, but he's playing with the cool head of someone who has played at three World Cups and won two Champions League titles.
“Even when I was 30, I didn’t see what he saw at 18. This player is so intelligent.”
Bayern have also been linked with a move for Vuskovic, prompting Vega to fear the worst as he makes a worrying claim.
Ramon Vega convinced Luka Vuskovic is going to quit Tottenham
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the ex-Tottenham defender claims Spurs have made a real howler over Vuskovic by allowing him to shine elsewhere.
The Argentine believes that a Bayern move for the teenage sensation is only a matter of time, blasting Tottenham's decision-making.
Vega didn't hold back when discussing the situation on social media, posting a scathing assessment of Spurs' football department.
The ex-Swiss international declared categorically that Vuskovic will not be returning to North London, labelling him as yet another lost gem where Spurs had a genuine chance but made completely the wrong decision.
Vega described this as a prime example of the problems plaguing Tottenham's football operations, calling it "total neglect".
Vega made 68 appearances for Spurs between 1996 and 2000, winning the League Cup in 1999, so his perspective carries significant weight.
His brutal assessment highlights mounting frustration around Tottenham's transfer strategy and player development.
Cristian Romero has already been linked with a summer exit to La Liga after publicly slamming the club's January business as "disgraceful" following their Man City draw.
Frank also remains odds-on favourite to become the next Premier League manager sacked despite Sunday's spirited comeback against Pep Guardiola's side.