The perilous nature of Tottenham's Premier League position has rendered it tough to consider the future, namely the summer transfer window.
A once-unfathomable humiliation remains on the cards, but on the flip side of the coin, a potentially exciting future beckons with Roberto De Zerbi at the helm. The early signs are doubtless promising, with Sunday's win at Aston Villa thrusting us out of the relegation zone after West Ham United were beaten at Brentford.
The club have supposedly been busy behind the scenes, preparing for the eventuality that De Zerbi gets us out of the mire. No matter what goes down over the next few weeks, there's an expectation that Tottenham's backline will look a whole lot different come the start of 2026/27.
Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario are almost certain to depart, while Micky van de Ven could be tempted elsewhere. Spurs will most likely have to reinvent their backline this summer, and the club know they boast a potential trump card.
Tottenham preparing fresh Luka Vuskovic contract offer
Spurs worked a minor miracle to convince 16-year-old Luka VuÅ¡koviÄ to join the club in 2023. He arrived in an official capacity after turning 18, but is yet to feature in a competitive game.
Nevertheless, his distinct talent has manifested out on loan. His current spell, with returning Bundesliga club Hamburg, has seen VuÅ¡koviÄ's stock soar. An immediate fan favorite, given his martyred brother's ties to the club, the defender has discussed potentially remaining at the Volksparkstadion for another year, amid reported interest from Europe's elite.
Tottenham's relegation would offer them little leverage if the teenager didn't fancy a second-tier excursion. With the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona lingering, we could be powerless to prevent VuÅ¡koviÄ from making a major move at such a young stage of his potentially stellar career.
Thus, survival is imperative for keeping the teenager onside. According to The Sun's Tom Barclay, Spurs are ready to offer VuÅ¡koviÄ a 'bumper new contract' to retain the Croatian international for the long haul. Sporting director Johan Lange has reportedly flown to Hamburg to touch base with the defender and his entourage, likely laying out the club's plan for him moving forward.
Now, leaving Lange to anything of importance unnerves me, but we can at least appreciate the proactivity. Spurs may have something special in VuÅ¡koviÄ, and if the departures many are expecting do play out, then the 19-year-old will emerge as a defensive protagonist in N17 next season.