London Evening Standard

Much is expected of the young centre-back, who was signed nearly three years ago but is yet to play a competitive game for the club having been sent out on loan. Vuskovic, who has four years to on his contract, has most recently enjoyed a hugely beneficial loan spell at Hamburg, who saw him named in the Bundesliga’s team of the season.

Such form has reportedly prompted interest from across Europe, to throw Vuskovic’s future at Spurs into doubt. The player himself has made no secret of his desire to remain on loan at Hamburg so he can player with his brother, whose doping ban end in November.

Alderweireld, who was one of the Premier League’s best defenders during his six years in north London, is among Vuskovic’s admirers, and tipped him to emulate his former team-mate Vertonghen.

”I played against Luka Vuskovic in Belgium when he played for Westerlo. I think he's physically very strong for his age, so that's a positive. He will only get stronger and stronger. I didn't see a lot of games from him, but of course, if you're in the team of the year playing for Hamburg, it means you're doing well.

“Maybe he can do the pre-season [with Spurs] and show his qualities. But he's young, so if it's not this season, in the future he will definitely get a good chance to prove himself, get a regular start in the first team.

“He will get the opportunity, of course, it's up to him to take the chances or not, but he has everything to become an unbelievable centre-back. He’s strong, quick, good with his feet, even in the attacking box of the opponent, he can win some headers, score some goals, he's a very all-round complete defender.”

Alderweireld added: “He's more than just a defender. He scores all of the goals, and he's good with passing as well ... he's not a typical defender, not only a no-nonsense defender. He has a lot more qualities about him. [I would compare him to] Jan Vertonghen. He's also good with things other than only defending with his head.”

Toby Alderweireld was speaking exclusively to the London Standard in association with BOYLE Sports 2 Goals Ahead. The early payout offer allows fans to back a team and if they go 2 goals up at any point during a 90 minute match (e.g 2-0, 3-1, 4-2), BOYLE Sports will immediately settle as a winning bet, no matter the final result. Go to BOYLE Sports for more.

Spurs are keen to sign the Dutch centre-back this summer, having already wrapped up a Bosman signing of Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, amid uncertainty over the future of captain Cristian Romero.

Van Hecke is expected to leave Brighton this summer with just one year left to run on his contract, and Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has confirmed that Spurs are not the only interested team. Liverpool and Newcastle have also been linked.

Brighton are reportedly demanding £70million to sell the 25-year-old, with Spurs having first bid around £40m. Another offer from Spurs has now been rejected, with another expected.

Barber told talkSPORT: "There's always going to be a lot of interest in our best players, and certainly in the case of Jan Paul.

"Yes, we have rejected a bid from Tottenham over the last week or so, in fact, two bids. From that point of view, it has to be right for us as well as the player.”

He added: "We have to be in a position to make the best trades to suit our model and also to make sure that we're supporting Fabian [Hurzeler, Brighton manager], because he's got another big season ahead of him.

"He's had two seasons in the Premier League, he's finished eighth on both occasions, this time we've been fortunate enough to qualify for a European competition.

"We want to go as deep in that competition as we can, while also doing well in the Premier League.

"To do that, we need to make sure Fabian's got the best possible squad and we've got the right balance between the young players that typically we like to bring in and develop, and the more experienced players like Pascal Gross and others, who can actually help us progress in all of the competitions that we're in.

"As always, it's a balancing act, and hopefully this summer we can work hard to pull it off again."

“For me, Van Hecke is ready. He's ready to play because he played under De Zerbi and he showed that he can play in the moment, that he's mature, and we need players that are already mature.”

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He has since undergone multiple surgeries on his route to recovery and declared himself available to represent Sweden at the World Cup, but, perhaps unsurprisingly, was left behind by Graham Potter.

Kulusevski’s full focus, then, is on getting himself ready to represent Tottenham in the upcoming Premier League season, and it seems Roberto De Zerbi will be able to call on him when they get their campaign underway in August.

Kulusevski has shared plenty of content from his recovery on his Instagram page, and in a new story post, shows himself playing a game of two-on-two basketball.

The short clip shows him picking up the ball inside the three-point line, before driving to the basket and passing to his team-mate, who scores from the free-throw line.

That post is followed by a photo of a Tottenham-branded football next to a pitch.

Kulusevski has previously posted clips of himself undergoing rehabilitation work both in the gym and on the pitch, but this latest snippet is the most vigorous activity we have seen from the Swede since he last appeared for Tottenham some 391 days ago.

The clip shows him moving freely, suggesting his injury nightmare may now be a thing of the past, though this will not be confirmed until he reports for pre-season training.

Tottenham endured a tumultuous season with Kulusevski absent. Three different managers took the helm as they narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the Premier League season.

“For me, it’s difficult to understand how he can play at the World Cup if he didn’t play any games this season,” De Zerbi explained.

“But I texted him after [the Villa game]. He told me in the next week, I think, he comes back [to continue his rehab at Hotspur Way]. And I hope he can be available to stay with us in the last game because he is an amazing player.”

Kulusevski’s Tottenham team-mate Lucas Bergvall has been called up to Sweden’s World Cup squad. The Blagult were drawn into a difficult group, though, where they will face Tunisia, the Netherlands and Japan.

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Ex-Tottenham midfielder, Sandro, has identified where Roberto De Zerbi needs to focus if he wants to successfully rebuild Spurs after their worst Premier League season ever.

After only winning three games at home all season in the league and finishing just two points above the relegation zone in 17th, there will need to be an overhaul at Spurs if they are to improve vastly next season.

Sandro proposed that De Zerbi needs to build a solid defence around their star centre-back Micky van de Ven, hoping the dutchman will stay on for another season with rumours of Cristian Romero’s departure growing.

“Van de Ven needs to stay, he needs to be the captain for next season,” Sandro explained. “I think De Zerbi will build a strong squad and it will help Micky as well. He's so important for Tottenham.

“I hope he does stay and [De Zerbi can] build the team around him at the back and then around the midfielders.”

If Romero does decide to leave Spurs, then they will have to be on the market for a regular centre back partner for Van De Ven.

Sandro has picked out the man who he believes is perfect for that job and already has experience playing De Zerbi’s style of football.

“They are talking about Marcos Senesi, at Bournemouth,” the Brazilian said. “But I really like the defender from Brighton, Van Hecke.

“For me, Van Hecke is ready. He's ready to play because he played under De Zerbi and he showed that he can play in the moment, that he's mature, and we need players that are already mature.”

If De Zerbi can be prudent in this summer’s transfer window and brings in a player like Van Hecke, then Sandro is certain that Van De Ven can be just as good as Gabriel, who is widely agreed upon to be one of, if not the best, centre back in the league.

“He just needs the players, the squad to help him a little bit and, having a strong team around him.

Questions right down the spine of the team must be addressed

Sam Tabuteau

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Tottenham have a huge summer ahead of them after securing Premier League survival on the final day of the season.

Roberto De Zerbi has admitted that he wants to keep only “11 to 12” of the current players at the club next season as he looks to get Spurs challenging again for a top-four finish.

A squad overhaul is expected, with captain Cristian Romero weighing up his options, while Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson are close to completing free transfers to the north London club.

Spurs are desperate to put last season behind them, with Micky van de Ven describing the last 12 months as unacceptable.

But in order to do so, De Zerbi will need to be decisive in the transfer market as he remodels his squad after a difficult season.

Here, Standard Sport looks at three decisions De Zerbi must get right if he is to make Spurs competitive next season…

Luka Vuskovic

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Can Vuskovic step in for Romero?

Luka Vuskovic has yet to make a competitive appearance for Spurs, but it appears as if his future will be one of the major talking points of the summer.

The 19-year-old Croatian centre-back is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in Europe and enjoyed a hugely impressive season on loan at Bundesliga side Hamburg.

It is felt that Vuskovic, who will play in this summer’s World Cup, is ready to come in and challenge for minutes at Spurs next season.

But Vuskovic has made no secret of his desire to play alongside his brother, Mario, at Hamburg, who returns from a drugs ban in November.

Along with growing interest in the player, there are complications surrounding Vuskovic’s future in north London.

Spurs will be in the market for defensive reinforcements should Romero leave the club this summer, and De Zerbi must decide whether he believes Vuskovic is ready to step in for the Argentine.

De Zerbi will hope that any decision on Vuskovic remains in his hands, but knows interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona could tempt the teenager to leave permanently.

Antonin Kinsky

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Can Kinsky become Spurs’ permanent No1?

A huge amount of credit must be given to Antonin Kinsky for the way in which he recovered from his nightmare performance against Atletico Madrid in March to steer Spurs to safety.

The Czech goalkeeper, standing in for the injured Guglielmo Vicario, played a pivotal role as Spurs picked up 11 points from their final six league games to avoid the embarrassment of relegation.

Crucial saves against Wolves and Leeds preserved precious points for Spurs, who avoided relegation by just two points, and there is now a question as to whether Kinsky is capable of becoming Spurs’ first choice keeper.

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With Vicario’s future uncertain amid interest from his native Italy, Spurs could be looking for a new No1 next season.

There is a longstanding interest in Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, but De Zerbi has been impressed, if not surprised, by Kinsky’s renaissance and could look to focus resources elsewhere as he attempts to remodel his squad.

Xavi Simons could be sidelined until 2027

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Do Spurs need to invest in another creative midfielder?

Technical director Johan Lange got it wrong in the January transfer window when he insisted that Spurs did not need to be proactive in responding to a slew of injuries that decimated their squad.

In only managing to bring in Conor Gallagher and Brazilian teenager Souza, Spurs were left desperately short of options, particularly in attack, as their form plummeted after the turn of the year.

Spurs say they will be aggressive in the transfer market, and look set to wrap up deals for Senesi and Robertson.

However, it is in attack where De Zerbi needs to decide whether to wait on injured players or enter the market for reinforcements.

Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are not expected to return to fitness until the new year after suffering anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

There is no timeline in place either for when Dejan Kulusevski or Mohammed Kudus will be back to fitness.

Kulusevski has been out since May 2025 with a complicated patella injury, while Kudus suffered a setback in his recovery from a serious quad injury. Both players have been left out of their respective World Cup squads.

James Maddison played a small part in Spurs’ run-in as he stepped up his recovery from an ACL injury.

Spurs, though, will need to learn from the mistakes of January if they are to push on next season.

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