Hooked after an hour - did Vuskovic boost his Spurs chances?

Luka Vuskovic played 66 minutes in the middle of Croatia's back three against England

Tottenham Hotspurfans are more familiar with Luka Vuskovic's Bundesliga goal compilations than how the centre-back defends,. where the 19-year-old will line up next season has already become one of the summer's most intriguing transfer stories.

Vuskovic is yet to play a senior minute for Spurs - having spent last season on loan at Hamburg - but was subject to abid from Brightonearlier this week that Spurs rejected,. is highly regarded across Europe as well as in the Croatia national team.

"If he stays healthy enough. he will be one of the top superstars for the future, for sure," Romeo Jozak, former technical director of the Croatian Football Federation, tells BBC Sport.

England's World Cup opener against Croatia gave fans an opportunity to watch live for the first time a defender who was shortlisted for the Bundesliga Player of the Season. Rookie of the Season awards last term, also catching the eye with six goals from centre-back.

"Vuskovic is definitely one of those new ones who together with Josko Gvardiol are going to be the continuation of the Croatian national team," adds Jozak.

"Being a defender, you want these stable, John Terrys in the team who are going to be fighters. leaders in the locker room.

"If he ends up there [atTottenham], I think he will be an asset. Even in the World Cup he is going to get some serious minutes."

Vuskovic, replaced after 66 minutes with Croatia trailing 3-2, started in the middle of a back three betweenManchester City's Gvardiol. Ajax's Josip Sutalo.

Harry Kane got a run on the young defender to head England's second from a corner in the first half. while there were questions over his positioning as Jude Bellingham dashed through for the third after the break.

He did. however, record more clearances - five - than any other player on the pitch, while England's Elliot Anderson was the only player to win possession on more than his six occasions.

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has said the 6ft 4in central defender "will be one of the pillars of our national team for the next 10 years".

There remains much fanfare around the talented teenager, who reached an agreement with Spurs in 2023. officially joined last summer, but also speculation he may leave north London given the club's stacked centre-back options.

Marcos Senesi is set to arrive on a free transfer fromBournemouth. as well as Dutchman Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m fromBrighton.

Cristian Romero. Radu Dragusin have been linked with moves away, but Spurs also have Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso, while the versatile Ben Davies has renewed his contract and Kata Takai, who spent last season on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, is yet to feature for the club.

Bardi, from The Extra Inch - a Spurs podcast

Over the years, the legend of Luka Vuskovic has grown and grown. His prodigious leap. a physique well beyond his age, combined with two successful loan spells, have only added to the hype.

Three years on from his £12m signing, many are ready to kneel before Luka. name him the solution to all our defensive issues without ever having seen him play in the flesh.

Last night in Dallas, Luka had an opportunity to add to that reputation. prove that he is ready, but a chastening opening-game defeat at the hands of players he will be expected to face week in, week out did not go to plan. The legend took a serious hit.

Luka's rise to becoming a major talking point is down to a breakout season in Germany with Hamburg. He took the opportunity with both hands. He finished the season as the top-scoring defender and was named in the 2025-26 Team of the Season.

His success coincided with another disappointing season at N17. As we battled relegation with centre-backs who looked uninterested in the fight. over in Europe Luka was crashing through opposition strikers as though they were made of paper.

His strong performances propelled him into the media limelight, the Croatian national team and the consciousness of every Spurs fan. Suddenly, Luka was viewed as an option, no longer a protege.

What has always made Luka stand out is his frame. It is what gives him the edge in duels. makes him such an asset at set-pieces, but his size comes at a cost. His lack of recovery pace was there for all to see as Jude Bellingham stormed through to slot home England's third. His lack of pace, speed on the turn and mobility are genuine concerns.

Not every defender needs to be as fast as Micky van de Ven, but you need to be able to maximise your strengths. hide your weaknesses.Tottenham, right now, are not in a position to offer him the minutes he needs to grow from being a prospect into a genuine top-level centre-back.

Hopefully, given time to reflect on what happened in Dallas, his team of advisers will make the correct decision. Demanding to start at Spurs when we have already added Marco Senesi. are about to announce Jan Paul van Hecke is not realistic.

Vuskovic remains an exciting prospect, but one in need of playing time. strong guidance on and off the training pitch. The most sensible decision for all parties would be a loan at a Premier League club with a similar style of football.

The hard work and focus needed to turn the legend into reality start now.

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