Luka Vuskovic, the highly-rated young defender, is targeting a starting role at Tottenham Hotspur next season after impressing in multiple European leagues.
The 18-year-old, who joined Spurs in 2023, will officially join the squad this summer after turning 18 in February. Over the past two years, Vuskovic has played for his hometown club, Hajduk Split, Radomiak Radom, and Westerlo.
His imposing physique has made him a powerful force in the attacking third, despite playing as a centre-back.
Tottenham’s 2024-25 season has been plagued by injuries, particularly in defence. Starting centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have both missed significant portions of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Radu Dragusin is sidelined, and Kevin Danso has only just returned to matchday availability. Despite these setbacks, Vuskovic remains confident that he can earn a place near the top of the defensive pecking order when he arrives at the club.
In a recent interview with L’Avenir, Vuskovic expressed his determination to succeed at Tottenham. He said, “I think it’s possible, even though there are already world-class players there, like Van de Ven or Romero.
I want to move forward step by step: finish the season well in Westerlo, then make my place in Tottenham. Then we’ll see what the future holds.”
Vuskovic spoke about his growing confidence. “I feel more and more confident match after match. My style of play? I am a strong defender, who still needs to improve aggressiveness in one-to-one situations.
I work a lot with a personal coach, who focuses on my speed and explosiveness. But defending is not the thing I prefer in football. I also like to attack and score goals.”
The young defender’s attacking instincts have been evident throughout his career. He recalled, “I scored twice from the halfway line with Hajduk Split.
I’ve always scored goals in my career, I love that too much. I intend to remain a defender, but I like to score on a corner or free kick.”
This season, Vuskovic has been on loan at Westerlo in Belgium, where he has scored seven goals in 30 league appearances. He also netted three times during his time in Poland’s Ekstraklasa. His €11m transfer fee from Hajduk Split to Tottenham became the largest sale in the Croatian club’s history.
Once Vuskovic joins Tottenham, he will be eager to follow the example of young Spurs prospects like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. Both have received considerable playing time during a challenging second season under manager Ange Postecoglou.
Despite the ups and downs, Postecoglou’s team secured a place in the Europa League semi-finals by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Thursday. Vuskovic will be looking to make a significant impact at Tottenham when he arrives this summer.
He hopes to build on his impressive performances in Europe and challenge for a starting spot in the Premier League.
(Goal.com)
