Luka Vuskovic: Tottenham's Dilemma Over Rising Star

Tottenham are backing Roberto De Zerbi with money and power. That much is clear. What’s far less clear is what they do with Luka Vuskovic.

The 19-year-old centre-back has just put together a standout loan spell at Hamburg, building a reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders. He wants the next step now: a starting role, a real shirt, not another suitcase and another loan. Spurs, though, are not ready to hand him that.

They have already turned down two bids from Brighton, the latest worth £35m. Brighton have walked away for the moment, cooling their interest just as they agreed to sell Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham for £52m.

So Spurs are paying big money for a centre-back, while refusing big money for another. And the two stories collide right at Vuskovic’s feet.

A Talent Spurs Love, but Don’t Trust Yet

Inside Tottenham, there is no doubt about how highly they rate Vuskovic. The belief is strong: he could become one of the best defenders in the world. Just not yet.

Next season’s depth chart tells its own story. Van Hecke is on his way. Marcos Senesi is already in. If Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero stay, Vuskovic slides down to fifth choice. That is not the platform a 19-year-old with serious ambition is looking for.

Romero remains the wild card. His future is once again uncertain, just as it was before he signed a new deal last summer. On his day he is elite, a defender who can dominate any forward. The problem is those days come only about half the time, with injuries and suspensions constantly interrupting his rhythm. If a big offer lands, Spurs will at least listen. The question is whether anyone pays enough to tempt them.

Until that happens, Vuskovic sees a traffic jam in front of him.

Tottenham’s answer is simple: another loan. The club agree with Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic that the teenager must play regularly, but they are only prepared to guarantee that somewhere else. Vuskovic does not want that. Brighton can offer what he wants – a genuine shot at regular Premier League football – but they will not go to Tottenham’s asking price.

So the stalemate drags on. A player who wants to start, a club who want to keep him, and a buyer who will not overpay.

Echoes of Saliba – But With a Twist

Inside the club, some see clear parallels with William Saliba’s journey at Arsenal. Saliba had three loans in Ligue 1 before finally being trusted and then exploding into one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs.

Tottenham would happily follow that model. Loan, develop, then unleash. The difference is that Vuskovic is pushing harder, earlier, for that starting role. Arsenal also had a cleaner path into their XI when Saliba returned. De Zerbi, by contrast, is reshaping his defence in real time with ready-made ball-playing centre-backs.

Spurs plan to spend heavily this summer and know that means sales. In their ideal world, Vuskovic is not part of that. They would rather cash in on players who do not fit De Zerbi’s long-term picture. The market may force a different decision.

Van Hecke: De Zerbi Gets His Man

While Vuskovic waits, Van Hecke packs for London.

Tottenham have agreed a deal believed to be around £52m for the Netherlands international, who had just a year left on his Brighton contract. It is a huge profit for the Seagulls, who signed him from NAC Breda for £1.8m in 2020 and have smartly secured a 20 per cent sell-on clause.

Van Hecke only wanted Tottenham. More specifically, he wanted De Zerbi. He has described the Italian as a “father figure” and played 50 times under him at Brighton between 2023 and 2024. Now he reunites with the coach who helped shape his game.

This is Tottenham’s statement of faith in their new head coach. De Zerbi has kept them in the Premier League; now he has been given full control and the final say on transfers. Van Hecke is the defender he asked for, and Spurs have paid the price to get him.

De Zerbi’s Blueprint: Build From the Back

The plan is not subtle. De Zerbi wants centre-backs who can play. Not just tidy passers, but elite ball progressors.

Senesi has already arrived on a free after impressing at Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola, where he regularly punched vertical passes through the thirds. Van Hecke, meanwhile, is already fluent in De Zerbi’s high-risk, high-reward build-up style.

Last season, Senesi and Van Hecke ranked as the top two in the Premier League for bypassing defenders with their passing. They do not just keep the ball; they break lines, squeeze pressure, and take opponents out of the game with one pass.

The numbers show a clear gap between that duo and Spurs’ current pairing of Romero and Van de Ven when it comes to pure passing ability. De Zerbi has identified a weakness and moved aggressively to fix it.

Two ball-playing centre-backs in, a new identity forming from the back. And suddenly, even established names must look over their shoulders.

What Happens Next?

Tottenham’s summer is only just warming up. The club hold strong interest in Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and remain keen on Manchester City forward Savinho. Big names, big fees, big expectations.

All of that has consequences. Money in means money out. And somewhere in that equation sits Luka Vuskovic, too good to ignore, too raw – in Tottenham’s eyes – to trust just yet.

Brighton are waiting for Spurs to blink on the price. Vuskovic is waiting for clarity on his role. De Zerbi is building a defence in his image.

Something has to give. The only question is whether Tottenham’s future back line is built around Vuskovic, or funded by him.