Tottenham could offer an upgraded contract to returning prospect.
Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to offer Luka Vuskovic a significantly upgraded contract to fend off interest from Europe’s elite clubs, with sporting director Johan Lange having already travelled to Hamburg to hold personal talks with the 19-year-old about his long-term future at the club, according to The Sun.
Vuskovic, Tottenham’s second-most-valuable player, has been one of the standout defenders in the Bundesliga this season, scoring five goals in 26 appearances for Hamburg and attracting admiring glances from some of the most powerful clubs on the continent. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus was moved to declare after watching him score against Bayern Munich in January that at 18, he plays as if he had already experienced three World Cups.
The Croatian, set to represent his country at this summer’s World Cup against England, is currently on relatively modest wages having joined from Hajduk Split for £12 million in a deal agreed in 2023, with Brexit rules preventing his move until the window after he turned 18. A new contract would align his earnings with other first-team players and send a clear message about the central role Tottenham envision for him going forward.
Vuskovic will face competition at Tottenham
The pathway to first-team involvement will open considerably this summer. One of Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven is expected to leave, while Radu Dragusin could also be sold, creating exactly the kind of vacancy that Vuskovic’s return from Hamburg is perfectly timed to fill.
The broader picture of Tottenham’s potential starting lineup next season, should they secure Premier League survival, is genuinely exciting. SunSport’s projected XI features James Trafford of Manchester City in goal, with Vicario expected to depart for Inter Milan. Robertson and Porro provide the fullback options, with Senesi and Vuskovic forming a young and technically assured central defensive partnership. Bergvall and Bentancur anchor the midfield, while Kulusevski, Gallagher, and Kudus operate behind Solanke.
The free transfer deals understood to be in place for both Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi add significant defensive quality without requiring substantial outlay, allowing the budget to be directed toward other positions. Robertson’s Premier League experience and Senesi’s physicality and composure on the ball would give De Zerbi’s backline an entirely different character to the one that has been exposed so repeatedly throughout this disastrous campaign.
First, though, survival must be secured. Sunday’s 2-1 win at Villa Park moved Spurs one point above the drop zone with three games remaining. The exciting lineup above is a vision worth fighting for, and the players currently on the pitch have every reason to make it a reality.