Tottenham Hotspur youngster Luka Vuskovic has spoken out about his future for the first time, with Brighton and several other European clubs circling.
Spurs have until the end of the World Cup to decide what comes next for the Croatian teenager, but the situation is proving far from clear-cut.
Vuskovic is coming off an impressive loan spell in the Bundesliga, which has caught the attention of some of Europe’s biggest names. Tottenham are believed to want him to sign a new contract before sanctioning another loan move, though that is not understood to be the player’s preference. Instead, the 19-year-old is eager for regular first-team football and would like clarity on his role for next season as soon as possible.
Spurs Web previously reported that Brighton have already had two bids rejected for the highly-rated centre-back, who is widely considered one of the most promising young defenders in world football. The Seagulls have since tabled a third offer, but that proposal is also thought to fall short of Tottenham’s reported £60 million valuation.
Vuskovic hints at his next move
Vuskovic is currently at the World Cup in North America with Croatia and featured in their opening match—a 4-2 defeat to England. Despite the loss, the defender played a key part in Croatia’s second goal.
Speaking before Croatia’s Group L clash against Panama, Vuskovic was asked about the transfer speculation and whether the mounting interest was adding any pressure.
“I don’t think much about it. I have really good teammates at both club and international level, and it’s a pleasure to play alongside them,” he said on the Americana show.
“I’m focused on the World Cup right now, but my goal is to have a season at a club where I’ll play and where they want me. We’ll see what happens in the coming days or weeks.”
Regular minutes could be hard to secure
Even if Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin both depart this summer as expected, Vuskovic would still face stiff competition for a right-sided defensive spot from new signing Jan Paul van Hecke and Kevin Danso. Van Hecke is set to partner Micky van de Ven regularly, while Danso proved a reliable option when called upon last season. With Spurs not competing in Europe, first-team openings could be even scarcer.
The Athletic have also suggested that Vuskovic may have concerns about his long-term pathway at Tottenham, particularly given the stop-start development of other young talents such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel—a factor that could weigh on the defender’s mind as he considers his next step.
