Brighton & Hove Albion have submitted an offer of £30 million to acquire defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur. The Croatia international, who is 19 years old, is considered a promising young defender in global football.
Despite interest from other major European clubs, Vuskovic reportedly views a move to Brighton as a beneficial next step in his career, with potential for further progression. He is familiar with Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler from their time in Germany, having spent a season on loan at Hamburg. This existing relationship contributes to a mutual trust, and Vuskovic believes Brighton has a strong record in developing young talent.
Tottenham initially agreed to sign Vuskovic from Hajduk Split in September 2023 for approximately £12 million. He officially joined the club last year after turning 18, and his contract with Spurs extends until 2030. He has not yet made an official first-team appearance for Tottenham, though he did feature in pre-season matches last summer.
During the 2025-26 season, Vuskovic was on loan at Hamburg, where he scored six goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances. He also had previous loan spells with Westerlo in Belgium and Radomiak Radom in Poland. His performances earned him a spot in Croatia‘s 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup, where he has been capped five times at senior international level.
Tottenham’s defensive situation
The offer for Vuskovic comes as Tottenham are reportedly pursuing Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Spurs have already made two offers for Van Hecke, which have been rejected. Tottenham have been active in addressing defensive issues, securing the signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi this summer.
Reports suggest that Tottenham captain Cristian Romero is expected to depart, and there is uncertainty surrounding the future of Radu Dragusin. If both Romero and Dragusin are sold, and a deal for Van Hecke is completed, Spurs would still have three right-sided centre-backs. This scenario could lead to competition for playing time among Vuskovic, Van Hecke, and Kevin Danso, particularly as Tottenham will not be participating in a European competition next season.
Some observers have drawn parallels between Vuskovic‘s situation and how Arsenal managed William Saliba, who went on loan to three different French clubs before becoming a key player for Arsenal. There is a concern among some Tottenham supporters that Vuskovic‘s value is increasing, and the club may need to integrate him into the squad soon to avoid potentially losing him permanently.
Brighton’s European ambitions
Brighton‘s pursuit of Vuskovic is part of their efforts to strengthen their squad ahead of their return to Europe, having qualified for next season’s Conference League. The club anticipates a busier season due to these European commitments. Brighton have also bolstered their defensive options under Roberto De Zerbi with the additions of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, both of whom arrived on free transfers.
Tottenham, meanwhile, is aiming to recover from a challenging 2025-26 season where they narrowly avoided relegation on the final day. The club experienced significant managerial changes during that campaign, going through three managers before appointing De Zerbi. Vuskovic is currently part of Croatia‘s squad for the World Cup.
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Source: nytimes.com
