Will Vuskovic's Croatia performance boost his Spurs future prospects?

Luka Vuskovic played 66 minutes against England but Spurs face tough defensive competition for the 19-year-old.

Spurs youngster under spotlight Tottenham fans usually see Luka Vuskovic's Bundesliga goals rather than his defensive work, but his position for next season has become one of the summer's biggest transfer topics. The 19-year-old has yet to play for Spurs, after spending last year on loan at Hamburg, yet he drew a bid from Brighton earlier this week that Spurs turned down. Across Europe and within the Croatian national team, Vuskovic is held in high regard. ## Expert praise for Vuskovic's potential Romeo Jozak, who once directed technical matters for Croatia's football governing body, states that if Vuskovic maintains fitness, he will surely become one of the next generation's leading players. Jozak adds that Vuskovic, alongside Josko Gvardiol, will carry forward the Croatian team's legacy. He describes defenders like Vuskovic as the team's backbone—fighters and leaders in the dressing room. Jozak believes Vuskovic would benefit Spurs and could earn significant playing time at the World Cup. ## Croatia's defensive outing against England Vuskovic played 66 minutes in Croatia's back three between Manchester City's Gvardiol and Ajax's Josip Sutalo as they trailed England 3-2. Harry Kane exploited space to head England's second from a corner in the first half, while questions arose over Vuskovic's positioning as Jude Bellingham broke through after the break. Despite the setback, Vuskovic recorded five clearances—the most by any player on the pitch—while England's Elliot Anderson was the only one to win possession more often, with six takes. ## Croatia boss backs Vuskovic's future Zlatko Dalic, Croatia's head coach, says the 6ft 4in central defender will be a 'pillar of our national team for the next 10 years'. The teenager signed with Spurs in 2023 and officially joined last summer, but speculation persists about his future given Spurs' deep options in defence. ## Spurs' defensive depth creates uncertainty Tottenham are set to add Marcos Senesi on a free transfer from Bournemouth and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m. Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin have been linked with departures, yet Spurs retain Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, and Ben Davies, who recently renewed his contract. Kata Takai, who spent last season on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, has yet to feature for the club. ## Podcast host questions Vuskovic's hype Bardi, from The Extra Inch Spurs podcast, notes that over time, Vuskovic's reputation has grown through viral clips, his impressive physique, and two successful loans, making many fans see him as a ready-made solution despite never playing for Spurs. The young defender had a chance to reinforce that image against England but suffered a difficult opening defeat against players he may face regularly. His performance in Dallas did little to quiet doubts, taking a hit to his rising legend. ## Hamburg loan fuels Vuskovic's rise Vuskovic's breakthrough came during his time in Germany with Hamburg, where he seized the opportunity and ended the season as the top-scoring defender, earning a place in the 2025-26 Team of the Season. His progress contrasted sharply with Spurs' struggles in defence last term, where their centre-backs seemed disengaged during a relegation battle. While Spurs faltered domestically, Vuskovic dominated in Europe, forcing his way into national team discussions and Spurs fan conversations. Suddenly, he moved from prospect to potential first-team option. ## Concerns over Vuskovic's physical limitations Vuskovic's standout trait is his imposing frame, which gives him an edge in duels and makes him a threat at set-pieces, yet his size comes with drawbacks. His lack of recovery pace was exposed as Bellingham accelerated past him to score England's third goal. Questions remain about his speed, agility, and mobility, genuine concerns for a defender. Not every centre-back needs the speed of Micky van de Ven, but players must maximize strengths and mask weaknesses. ## Is Spurs' setup the right place for growth? Currently, Spurs may not provide the minutes Vuskovic needs to develop from prospect to top-level defender. After adding Marco Senesi and preparing to announce Jan Paul van Hecke, expecting immediate starts may not be realistic. The teenager remains an exciting talent but needs regular football and strong mentorship. A loan move to a Premier League side with a similar style could be the most sensible path for all involved.