Brighton give clearest sign that talks with Tottenham have stalled for Luka Vuskovic

By
Jainil Shah
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Luka Vuskovic is among the most-wanted defenders in world football.

While we saw Tottenham already dealing with Brighton this summer, that evolved into the Lilywhites signing Jan Paul Van Hecke in a marquee move. But many Spurs supporters don’t expect that to be the last of the North Londoners dealing with the Seagulls this off-season given their interest in prying away highly rated Luka Vuskovic from N17.

Brighton agree deal to sign CB with PL experience

Luka Vuskovic has been highly rated, and we have seen the whys of it in the performances that he had been putting in the German top tier for his loan club last season. But given that the pathway to secured first-team minutes looks difficult at Hotspur Way with Micky van de Ven present in that left CB role, the Croat could be expected to move away this summer in search of regular game time. And Brighton is expected to be among the favourite destinations given how Hürzeler & Co. have held interest in him all summer.

But Brighton may have given us the clearest sign that the talks with Tottenham have stalled, with the latest report from The Athletic confirming that as they verbally agreed to terms with Leeds United in a deal that will see Pascal Struijk moving to Amex Stadium in a deal for around £20 million.

Does Struijk singing means Brighton will not sign Vuskovic?

The signing of an experienced centre-back from an English Premier League side like Struijk is more reflective of a club that is preparing itself for a backup plan than one that is confident of securing its main target (in our case, Vuskovic).

That being said, his signing at Amex doesn’t necessarily mean that Brighton have abandoned their interest in signing Vuskovic altogether, given how we have seen time and again how clubs in the Premier League pursue multiple solutions to the same needs at hand in the same window, especially when the possibility of landing the expensive target remains uncertain.

Struijk could end up bringing that depth for Brighton while they continue to push for Vuskovic. But the timing and the fee involved do suggest that they are no longer waiting purely on the Vuskovic situation at Tottenham resolving itself before they go on to address their defensive concerns, especially given they have lost Van Hecke at the heart of defence.

We will see where it goes, but there is no conclusive evidence that Brighton will not push to sign Vuskovic. But if their bids for him quietly stop coming in, we know the reason why.