Vuskovic's World Cup debut raises questions about Spurs future

Tottenham Hotspur fans are more familiar with Luka Vuskovic's Bundesliga goal compilations than how the centre-back defends, but 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 a bid from Brighton earlier this week that Spurs rejected. He is highly regarded across Europe as well as in the Croatia national team.

World Cup debut: a mixed performance

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 and Rookie of the Season awards last term, also catching the eye with six goals from centre-back. Vuskovic, replaced after 66 minutes with Croatia trailing 3-2, started in the middle of a back three between Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol and 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.

High praise from Croatian officials

"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, told BBC Sport. "Vuskovic is definitely one of those new ones who together with Josko Gvardiol are going to be the continuation of the Croatian national team. Being a defender, you want these stable, John Terrys in the team who are going to be fighters and leaders in the locker room. If he ends up there [at Tottenham], I think he will be an asset. Even in the World Cup he is going to get some serious minutes."

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".

Spurs' defensive logjam

There remains much fanfare around the talented teenager, who reached an agreement with Spurs in 2023 but 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 from Bournemouth, as well as Dutchman Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m from Brighton. Cristian Romero and 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.

Fan view: 'the legend took a serious hit'

Bardi, from The Extra Inch, a Spurs podcast, offered a fan perspective: "Over the years, the legend of Luka Vuskovic has grown and grown. His prodigious leap and 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 and 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 and 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."

Bardi added: "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."