Luka Vuskovic is pushing for a permanent departure from Tottenham Hotspur, with the 19-year-old unwilling to accept a loan move or a bit-part role at the club, talkSPORT reports.
The Croatian teenager’s frustration stems from Spurs’ busy defensive recruitment this summer. The signings of Marcos Senesi and the imminent £52million arrival of Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton have effectively blocked his route to regular first-team football at the club.
In a twist of irony, Brighton had submitted a £35million bid for Vuskovic just days before agreeing to sell Van Hecke to Spurs — an offer Tottenham quickly dismissed. That rejection appears to have only strengthened the young defender’s determination to seek a move, with Spurs understood to value him at £60million — a considerable markup on his original fee.
Europe’s Hottest Prospect
Vuskovic arrives at this crossroads on the back of a sensational 2025/26 loan spell at Hamburg, where he contributed six goals in 30 appearances and was rewarded with a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Season. The performances put Europe on notice, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich all said to be monitoring his situation.
talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs recently highlighted him as one of the five standout wonderkids at the World Cup, further underlining his status as one of the most coveted teenagers in world football.
Tottenham originally paid £12million to Hajduk Split for his signature in 2023, though EU regulations meant he could not link up with the squad until last summer. His solitary appearance in a Spurs shirt — a pre-season friendly against Reading — hinted at what the club may be giving up, as he scored and provided an assist within just eight minutes on the pitch.
A Centre-Back Swap Between the Clubs?
Brighton’s interest in Vuskovic emerged around the same time the two clubs were in discussions over Van Hecke. talkSPORT understands that a deal for the Dutchman has now been concluded after Tottenham’s first two bids were knocked back. Brighton CEO Paul Barber publicly acknowledged the club had rejected both earlier proposals before eventually sanctioning the sale, with Van Hecke having just one year left on his Amex Stadium contract.
