Ex-Tottenham scout laughs out loud at Luka Vuskovic exit fee - ' Not money laundering is it'

Tottenham Hotspur have pulled off a brilliant piece of business by selling Luka Vuskovic to Brighton for £50million.

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

The Seagulls will pay an initial fee of £46m with £4m in potential add-ons for the 19-year-old, who cost just £12m from Hadjuk Split three years ago and has never made a competitive appearance for the North London club.

Vuskovic is very highly rated and enjoyed a brilliant season in the Bundesliga with Hamburg, but wanted to leave Tottenham this summer.

The Lilywhites have already signed Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton and Marcos Senesi on a free transfer, with the Croatia international keen for regular Premier League football.

Tottenham have also let Radu Dragusin leave to Fiorentina on loan with an obligation to buy, with another centre-back potentially set to arrive if Cristian Romero leaves.

Bryan King stunned by Luka Vuskovic fee

Tottenham would have hoped to have kept Vuskovic at the club this summer, but that possibility quickly lost its feasibility.

The 19-year-old has reportedly been pushing for an exit, having evidently not received assurances of playing time under Roberto De Zerbi.

The Lilywhites will be pleased to have secured at least a £38m profit on their purchase three years ago, however, and the 20 per cent sell-on clause inserted into the deal should see that figure rise higher.

When told the fee, King laughed out loud and said: "That's nearly as much as they paid for an experienced centre-half, who has been playing in the Premier League!

"It's not money laundering, is it? Dear me. He hasn't played a game in the Premier League and he's £50m! Correct me if I'm wrong here, but did Hamburg win the Bundesliga and the Cup or what?

"It mystifies me. It was a great bit of recruitment, bring him in for £12m and sell him for £50m."

Will Tottenham regret Vuskovic sale?

Vuskovic certainly has the potential to progress into a top defender, and has already shown signs of serious talent.

In the Bundesliga this season, the centre-back completed an astonishing 9.25 clearances, 4.65 recoveries and 7.63 duels won per 90 minutes.

Incredibly, his 12.5 defensive contributions per game was bettered by just one player in the league, Denis Vavro.

Vuskovic has plenty of developing still to do, but Brighton appears a move that will place him in the right hands.