Daniel Levy is reported to have messaged Simon Jordan earlier this summer, saying Tottenham had been left badly exposed by the Luka Vuskovic and Jan Paul van Hecke swap. Many put the remark down to bitterness after his sudden exit as chairman, but recent events have lent it new weight. Van Hecke has had a rough patch, including some poor displays against Coventry City, while Vuskovic keeps growing at Brighton and Hove Albion. That contrast has people asking whether Spurs made an expensive error by letting the Croatian teenager go without a proper first-team chance.
Brighton have started the Premier League season superbly and look like early title contenders, with a 5-0 demolition of rivals Crystal Palace at the Amex a highlight. Under Fabian Hurzeler they have scored 23 goals in seven league games and conceded just five, level with Arsenal at the top of the defensive table. Vuskovic, 19, has been a big part of that, helping deliver four clean sheets, scoring once and setting up Jack Hinshelwood’s goal against Palace. He is winning 6.9 duels per game, 4.4 of them aerial, against 5.7 and 2.9 for Van Hecke. Spurs’ £52 million investment in Van Hecke could still work out over time, but selling Vuskovic looks harder to justify by the week.
The episode has raised doubts about Tottenham’s transfer approach and their willingness to trust young players. Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly keen to work again with Van Hecke, his former Brighton player, and that seems to have helped smooth Vuskovic’s path to the south coast. On paper the money made sense, since Spurs reportedly took in about £50 million for a player they signed for around £12 million in 2023. But he left without a single senior competitive appearance, despite strong loan spells in Belgium with Westerlo and Germany with Hamburg, where he hit six Bundesliga goals, an unusual return for a centre-back.
With Cristian Romero’s future uncertain, Vuskovic might have grown into a long-term partner for Micky van de Ven, giving Spurs a defensive pairing to last years. Instead they must watch him blossom elsewhere, perhaps into one of the league’s top young defenders.
His departure has also put De Zerbi’s handling of academy talent under scrutiny. Mikey Moore has already gone on loan to FC Koln, and 18-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett is still waiting for a genuine opportunity. The youngster reportedly impressed in pre-season, notably against Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in the friendly with MK Dons, and can play as a defensive, central or attacking midfielder or on the left wing. His close control, creativity and confidence make him one of the club’s most exciting prospects, yet he has only two senior appearances, including a brief Carabao Cup outing against Charlton Athletic, and was an unused substitute in the latest match.
That lack of minutes is becoming a worry, especially with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund reportedly asking about him. His contract runs to 2028, which offers some protection, and Spurs are said to have opened talks over an extension while weighing a January loan. A temporary move could give him valuable senior experience, as long as the club picks a destination where he will play regularly.
Even so, Tottenham need to tread carefully. If Williams-Barnett feels the route into the first team is blocked, interest from Europe’s big clubs will be hard for him to ignore, and the Vuskovic case shows what can happen when a talented teenager is not given a clear pathway.
Young players do need time, and at 18 Williams-Barnett should be managed with his long-term development in mind rather than short-term pressure. But patience should not mean leaving promising players with no realistic route to the senior squad. Spurs may have made a large profit on Vuskovic, yet the prospect of losing a future defensive star raises the question of whether they put quick money ahead of sporting benefit. De Zerbi now has a chance to show the club can develop and keep its best youngsters, and must make sure Williams-Barnett does not become another costly m
- istake.
