Tottenham Hotspur have begun to overhaul their defense after another 17th placed finish in the Premier League last season. After securing two veterans of the league in Liverpool left back Andrew Robertson and Bournemouth central defender Marcos Senesi on free transfers, Roberto De Zerbi stepped in and successfully demanded his first blockbuster transfer of the window, bringing in former Brighton pupil Jan Paul van Hecke for a cool 60 million euros.
While the Van Hecke transfer has been met positively by Tottenham supporters, one concern has been the future of Luka Vuskovic, who thinks he can be a star for Spurs from Day One after shining in the Bundesliga for Hamburg as one of the league's most touted and highly rated players, including by his own peers.
But Tottenham and De Zerbi do not seem to feel the same way. Although they still value the Croatian international highly as a player and will not sell for pennies on the dollar, which is what Brighton were hoping for as a make weight in the Van Hecke transfer, it does feel like Vuskovic will have to consent to another year on loan away from N17.
Luka Vuskovic has a problem trait
Watching England and Croatia battle it out with Luka Vuskovic in the starting lineup against the likes of Harry Kane and other Premier League stars of the past and present, one glaring concern became clear about the teenage center back from the get go: speed and acceleration.
Perhaps shielded in the back three and defensive structure of Hamburg, Vuskovic's speed, marking, and recovery were not tested as much, but against the dynamic England attack, he was not afforded the same protection.
He impressed in some ways technically, but he felt a step too slow in transitions, almost lumbering with a lack of agility and acceleration. While that was not an issue in the Bundesliga, Tottenham Hotspur cannot deny that he was a bit sluggish in those tight areas and even seemed to lack long speed on the break when real superstars like Jude Bellingham were on the ball.
Vuskovic is a special talent. There is no question about that, and anyone doubting his quality or potential is misguided. At the same time, he is not flawless, He has red flags, and Tottenham have to reconcile his lack of speed and how that translates to the Premier League and how Spurs are going to play, especially since Roberto De Zerbi will need his central defenders to be quick on the break like Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven are.
Add us as a preferred source on Google