Former Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic has been starring at Brighton.
Over the summer, Tottenham Hotspur spent big cash to back Roberto De Zerbi after he managed to keep the club in the top flight. 10 new players were brought in as part of the squad revamp.
The Hotspur Way chiefs added several players to strengthen their backline that leaked an alarming number of goals last season. In came Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Tosin Adarabioyo, while the notable departures were Cristian Romero, Djed Spence, Kevin Danso and Luka Vuskovic.
Luka Vuskovic joined Tottenham from Hajduk Split in 2023 and spent last season on loan at German club SV Hamburger. The teenager was one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga, netting six goals in 28 appearances for SV Hamburger. Upon returning to England after a terrific loan spell, the big Croat was expected to break through at Tottenham. However, that did not happen.
Instead, Brighton and Hove Albion signed Vuskovic for a club-record fee of £46 million in July. Spurs could receive an additional £4 million in add-on fees, while the deal includes a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
Alasdair Gold questions Tottenham’s decision to part ways with Luka Vuskovic
Now, Vuskovic is tearing up at Brighton. The 19-year-old was a part of the Seagulls side that staged a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to beat Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford and eliminate them from the Carabao Cup. Three days later, he helped his team keep a clean sheet in the 3-0 rout of the champions Arsenal at the Amex Stadium.
Respected journalist Alasdair Gold has now questioned the Lilywhites’ decision not to give Vuskovic a chance and sell him instead in the summer.
“The leaders were absent on Saturday. Van de Ven is a leader-by-example captain, but he struggled in the second half after that shiner on his right eye. Van Hecke is more of a talker but undermined any words he might have said with his worst performance since arriving from Brighton this summer,” Alasdair Gold wrote in Football London.
“Tottenham fans will be looking at Luka Vuskovic starring for the Seagulls, helping them to their 3-0 win against Arsenal in his latest start, and will be wondering when that particular trade will be proved worthwhile.
“Van Hecke could be a very useful addition for Spurs in time, but not giving Vuskovic the chance because it was felt the 19-year-old wasn’t ready is already looking like an utterly absurd decision, even for a £50m fee.”
Vuskovic deserved a chance at Tottenham
Vuskovic earned huge plaudits in the Bundesliga as arguably one of the league’s top five players in the 2025/26 season. The Croatian international demonstrated why he is so highly rated in just his first season at a high level, before further enhancing his reputation at the summer’s World Cup.
Fans were very confident that the teenage prodigy would be given chances to showcase his talent and establish himself under De Zerbi at White Hart Lane. After such an impressive campaign with Hamburg, he certainly warranted a look-in by De Zerbi. Despite playing in pre-season games, Vuskovic was bizarrely allowed to leave for Brighton.
If the Split-born defender starts to hit high levels, though, and show he is fulfilling the potential Tottenham spotted, there will be questions about the club allowing his sale in the summer.
