Tottenham Hotspur may not have received a huge windfall from Luka Vuskovic’s loan exit, but there are still long-term hopes pinned on the young defender’s future.
Tottenham Hotspur sanctioned a number of exits during the summer window, with some players sold and others heading out on loan to continue their development.
One of those was Luka Vuskovic, who had just returned from a two-year loan spell at Hajduk Split and Westerlo after turning 18 years old.
The Croatian centre-back had caught the eye during Tottenham’s pre-season, registering a goal and an assist against Reading, which only fuelled the belief that he has the qualities needed to grow into a top-level defender.
Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic joins Hamburg on low-cost deal
Despite those encouraging performances, Vuskovic was sent on loan to Bundesliga side Hamburg in the summer, with the move designed to secure him more playing time before pushing for a place in Tottenham’s first team.
German outlet Bild have now reported details of the switch, stating that Hamburg only paid around €1m (£850k) for the deal.
The report adds that it is not entirely clear whether this figure represents just the loan fee or both the loan fee and the player’s salary, but either way, it underlines that Hamburg has secured the Croatian on very favourable terms.
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Spurs, meanwhile, will be monitoring the youngster closely, as the expectation is for him to use this spell in Germany as a platform to prove himself before returning to compete with the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven for minutes in North London.
Tottenham hope Luka Vuskovic can grow into first-team role
The young centre-back has plenty of talent, but regular football is vital, and Hamburg reportedly views him as a defender capable of leading their backline even at his age.
Vuskovic himself speaking recently, shed light on why he pushed for the loan move, making it clear that he prioritised consistent minutes over staying put at Tottenham as a rotation option.
He said: “They (Tottenham) offered me the option to stay, to play in case of injury or cup games. But I wanted consistent playing time. They have Romero and Van de Ven, two of the best centre-backs in the world right now.
“I believe in myself, but it is really hard to play next to them. I have faced them and realised I need to work harder. A lot of work and a bit of luck, and I will return.”