Luka Vuskovic was one of the best center backs in world football last season despite having never started at the senior level, so Tottenham Hotspur fans are naturally excited for the prospective return of the prodigal son after an insane season with Hamburg in the Bundesliga.
Hamburg actually had a better campaign than Spurs, as Vuskovic outperformed both starting Spurs center backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. And yet, instead of clearing out the carpet for the Croatian sensation to start at center back next season, Spurs are already working on a second signing in central defense.
The free agent acquisition of Marcos Senesi looks like a replacement for Cristian Romero, but now Tottenham Hotspur are also making competitive bids for Jan Paul van Hecke, who could cost around 50 million pounds from Brighton. Van Hecke has been on Spurs radar for a while, but since he is older and not as talented as Luka Vuskovic, Spurs supporters are wondering why the club are driving so hard after him - other than the fact that Roberto De Zerbi used to work with him for the Seagulls.
Luka Vuskovic is headed for another loan
Football.London's Alasdair Gold sheds some light on the situation, stating that while Tottenham do indeed feel that Vuskovic is the higher upside center back as compared to Van Hecke, the club seem to be more inclined to loaning Vuskovic out again. They believe Vuskovic needs regular playing time in his U21 years to continue his rapid ascent in world football, and it seems as though Spurs are skeptical he can get those minutes he needs at Tottenham.
So it looks like by going after Jan Paul van Hecke, Tottenham are confirming that Vuskovic will not be in their first team after all in 2026/27, and they want to keep going with more proven Premier League players, which, based on Roberto De Zerbi's lineup selections last season, appears to be the M.O. of the new Italian manager at N17.
It's a shame, because fans do not want to see Vuskovic out on loan again. They think he is ready to start every week for Tottenham after playing so well in the Bundesliga that his peers were ranking him above Harry Kane even as one of the best three players of the 2025/26 league season.
Vuskovic is a special player, but in that vein, you can understand why Spurs want to keep his long term value and development in mind the most.
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