While Spurs work out what to do with their outspoken skipper after he mouthed off on social media once again, they also have the thorny issue of whizkid Luka Vuskovic.

Because the 18-year-old Croat is progressing so quickly out on loan with Hamburg in the Bundesliga, that all of the world’s top clubs are starting to take notice.

And there is fast becoming the very real possibility that Spurs could face a fight to keep hold of Vuskovic before he has even played a senior competitive game for them.

Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega certainly believes that to be the case.

In a brutal blast at the club, Vega tweeted: “This player is not coming back to Spurs!

“Another of many players the Spurs had a chance with, but they made the wrong decision.

“This is an example of the problem Spurs have been having within the football department! A total neglect.

“They will make good money, for sure, but there’s no football direction within the club. Off to Bayern he goes, no wonder I will not blame him.”

Tottenham beat off competition from Manchester City and other big boys to sign a 16-year-old Vuskovic from Hajduk Split for a whopping £12million in September 2023.

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But due to Brexit rules, the stocky teenager could not complete the move to N17 for another two years until after he had turned 18.

He had two loan spells in the intervening two years, first to Radomiak Radom in Poland and then last term to Belgian side Westerlo.

It was at the Antwerp club where not only did he rack up the appearances, playing 36 times in Belgian top division, but also earned a reputation for scoring goals.

And not only scoring goals, but scoring great goals too.

Out of his impressive haul of seven strikes for Westerlo, he netted a breathtaking overhead kick to grab his side a 2-2 draw at Club Bruges on Boxing Day 2024.

And he has continued his sharp-shooting this term on loan at Hamburg, where he already has four Bundesliga goals in 17 games.

Dominic Solanke made headlines for his inspired scorpion kick against Manchester City at the weekend, but defender Vuskovic had already pulled off something similar in December.

His acrobatic effort came in the thrilling 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen, backheeling in a free-kick from Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira.

Fans lit red flares in the crowd as they deliriously celebrated the improvised strike, while a winking Vuskovic pinched the shoulders of his shirt to revel in the moment.

Since then the starlet, who will face England at the World Cup this summer, has scored on an even bigger stage with Saturday’s leveller in the 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich.

Harry Kane’s Bayern are among the clutch of elite sides who would like to sign Vuskovic this summer, with club legend Lothar Matthaus blown away by his progress.

Matthaus, who won 150 caps for Germany and won six titles for Bayern, told TV after the game: “At the age of 18, he plays as if he had already played three World Cups!

“Even when I was 30, I didn’t see what he saw at 18. This player is so intelligent.”

Vuskovic only won the first of his two Croatia caps in June but already looks to be his nation’s most exciting young prospect.

Former Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic, who won 106 caps for Croatia and helped inflict the World Cup semi-final defeat over England at Russia 2018, said this week: “All of Europe is talking about him right now.

“FC Bayern needs to do everything [to sign him]. I believe the boy has to go to Bayern.

“He has everything it takes to become one of the best centre-backs.

“I’m curious to see if Tottenham will manage to keep him beyond the summer, because in my opinion he’s already ready for the next step to one of the absolute top clubs.

“And for me, there are only four or five of those clubs in Europe.”

The external pressure already seems to be building on Spurs to keep hold of the youngster, despite him not even playing for them competitively yet.

Vuskovic only arrived at Spurs for the first time in the summer, and he featured in pre-season.

He scored and assisted in July’s 2-0 win at Reading, which was Thomas Frank’s first game in charge.

But with Tottenham having their best two players in central defence – Romero and Micky van de Ven – and Frank wanting to play four at the back at the time, Vuskovic was unlikely to start many games for them this term.

Spurs were looking at loaning him to a Championship club, but in the end he went to Germany to Hamburg, who had looked after his older brother Mario during his doping ban.

Mario, 24, has not played since being suspended in March 2023 for failing a drugs test, with his ban extended in August until November 2026.

Yet Hamburg have stuck by the central defender, vowing to re-sign him when his ban is up.

Both Mario and Luka were at the club’s promotion party in May, where the younger sibling saw first hand the passion of the fanbase that he would end up playing for.

Hamburg would love to loan Vuskovic for a further year but surely know the teen sensation has already outgrown them.

The question is, with Spurs 14th in the Premier League and looking set for no European football next year, has he already outgrown his parent club too?

Tottenham would push back strongly, insisting that Vuskovic is their player.

But they may have a job on their hands to convince the boy wonder his future lies with them, given the likes of Bayern are circling this summer.

thesun.co.uk

Cristian Romero back on Atletico Madrid’s transfer radar after rant about Tottenham’s ‘disgraceful’ lack of players

Submitted by daniel on Wed, 04/02/2026 - 19:39

Cristian Romero back on Atletico Madrid's transfer radar after rant about Spurs - thesun.co.uk

CRISTIAN ROMERO is back on Atletico Madrid’s radar in the wake of his Tottenham outburst.

The LaLiga giants were keen to sign the World Cup winner last summer, but could not fund a move.

Romero ended up signing a new contract with Spurs and was named skipper by Thomas Frank.

Yet the Argentine has caused under-pressure boss Frank a headache for the second time in a month with a thinly-veiled dig towards the Spurs board on social media.

Now Atletico, who are targeting a new centre-back in the summer, are understood to be ready to pounce again should the Argentine become available at the end of the season.

It is unclear if Tottenham would even entertain that prospect, having only handed Romero a fresh four-year deal believed to be worth more than £200,000 a week in August.

Romero, 27, made headlines with an Instagram post within an hour of Monday’s transfer deadline in which he branded Spurs’ lack of available players as “disgraceful”.

It was viewed by many fans as another swipe at the Spurs hierarchy over insufficient spending in the transfer market, and was liked by a number of team-mates.

The explosive missive followed a similar one in January following the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth where he hit out at “other people” – viewed as the Spurs higher-ups – for not speaking publicly, and that when they do, they “tell a few lies”.

The lie comment was later edited out of his post but not before thousands of Tottenham fans had seen and shared it.

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Frank and co-sporting director Johan Lange spoke to Romero at the time about that statement but the defender was not fined, nor was he stripped of the captaincy.

Though Frank did hint that he may not be so lenient if it happened again, when answering if Romero could reach a point where his manager draws a line and says ‘no more’.

Frank replied on January 8: “Yes, of course. I’ve done that before with people being late, there was the [Yves] Bissouma situation.

“You talk about having to draw a line. I think, if it’s the exact same situation that they do… You can make a mistake [but] don’t make the same mistake twice.

“So I think I understand why you mention some players, but it’s all different situations and different players.”

Argentina team-mate Julian Alvarez revealed in December how close his pal Romero came to joining Atletico in the summer, before his contract U-turn at Tottenham.

thesun.co.uk

Brentford vs Tottenham: Prediction, preview and odds for New Year’s Day clash

Submitted by daniel on Thu, 01/01/2026 - 00:04

BRENTFORD and Tottenham are separated by just a single point heading into their New Year’s Day clash.

SunSport betting experts have previewed the contest and selected the best bets, tips and exclusive sign-up bonuses from our leading betting partners.

Brentford vs Tottenham preview

Losing Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, Brentford were most people’s tip for a toiling campaign.

But their win over Bournemouth last time out has the Bees up in eighth spot and just three points behind Chelsea who occupy fifth!

Two wins on the spin ended their four-game wait for a victory, though defeat at Spurs was included in that run.

Keith Andrews is doing a terrific job, with their home form in particular a standout with only Arsenal, Man City and Aston Villa picking up more points on home soil.

But Spurs arrive here in decent fettle away from home, with no side picking up more than the 17 points Spurs and Frank have accumulated on their travels.

Spurs have won the last four games against Brentford too and arrive off the back of a good 1-0 victory at another London side in Crystal Palace last time out.

Tricky one to call but the home fans are sure to be up for this game more than any other this season…..

Brentford vs Tottenham betting odds

Brentford 5/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE

Draw 12/5 with Midnite – CLAIM HERE

Tottenham 9/5 with BetMGM – CLAIM HERE

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Brentford vs Tottenham predictions

Good form

Really tough one to call, with Brentford excellent at home and Spurs very good away from home.

Two wins on the spin for the Bees has them above Thomas Frank’s Tottenham coming into this one and the ground is sure to be charged up ahead of this one.

Four wins and a draw in their last five home games, the Bees can edge this and continue their impressive campaign.

Brentford to win and both teams to score at 10/3 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE

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