Ex-Tottenham scout and Croatian talent-spotter left dumbstruck by Luka Vuskovic treatment

Tottenham Hotspur have been forced into selling Luka Vuskovic to Brighton after failing to back the player to develop in north London.

That is the opinion of former senior Tottenham scout and Croatian expert, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.

The Seagulls have agreed a fee worth £50million for the 19-year-old Croatia international, who joined the club officially only last summer.

Vuskovic was signed from Hajduk Split in a deal worth around £12m in 2023, and has never made a competitive appearance for Tottenham.

The defender was loaned out to Hamburg for the season and seriously impressed in Bundesliga, with the likes of Barcelona having been interested.

Tottenham have already signed Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke this summer, with Vuskovic's desire to leave clearly brought on by the depth at centre-back.

Tottenham ex-scout disappointed by Luka Vuskovic exit

There is likely an acceptance at Tottenham that Vuskovic's exit will be regretted one day.

The 20 per cent sell-on clause in the deal that will see him join Brighton says as much.

The 19-year-old is immensely talented and could well go on to be among the best centre-backs in all of Europe.

Ultimately, Tottenham could do little about Vuskovic wanting to leave, but different actions may have prompted a different outcome.

Speaking to Football Insider, King asked: "If they had that belief when they signed him for £12m and he's been on loan and done well, why would you go and spend £52m [on Van Hecke]?"

He continued: "This young boy who's played in the World Cup, has never played a game for Tottenham, goes for £50m.

"I really hope it works out for Brighton. I really hope it works out for the boy because I think Tottenham should have stuck by him. And why they never stuck by him and then went and spent £52m and then got £50m back is beyond me again, but that's football."

Uncertain World Cup stokes Vuskovic concerns

Vuskovic's superb performance in the Bundesliga has led many to assume that he will be ready from the off for Brighton next season.

However, the centre-back's poor World Cup has placed some doubts in that opinion. The 19-year-old started Croatia's first game against England and was turned inside out, before he was hooked at the hour mark.

Vuskovic would subsequently fail to feature for even a minute in Croatia's next three games as they were knocked by Portugal at the round of 32.

The teenager is clearly talented, but Tottenham may have had a point when they decided he was not ready to immediately start.