Luka Vuskovic transfer decision ‘not about money’ as quick Tottenham transfer could be on
Tottenham Hotspur must be prepared to give young centre-back Luka Vuskovic the gametime he “deserves” if they want to keep him this summer.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the starlet’s decision regarding his future will not be “about money” when he settles on his next move.
The 19-year-old is currently being linked with moves to the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, after an eye-catching loan spell in the Bundesliga this term.
Tottenham are working to try to seal a new contract for the Croatian talent, and Wyness feels that the North Londoners simply must give him what he wants, or they risk losing him “pretty quickly.”
Luka Vuskovic ‘best served’ by Tottenham stay
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that now is the time for Vuskovic to become part of the “reset” at Tottenham next season.
The defender shone during his loan spell with Hamburg this term, and even managed to notch six goals from the back as he quickly became an integral player for his loan club.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness made it clear that Vuskovic has done more than enough to be handed a role in Roberto De Zerbi’s squad next term.
“He is a real talent and there's no doubt that he's one they've got to be thinking about. I think the key thing for him will not necessarily be about money; it'll be about the pathway to getting regular first-team football at Spurs,” he said.
“That's what it's going to be about, and they've got to be having serious discussions with him and his advisors as to what the plans are for squad strengthening and where he fits within all that big plan going forward.
“Spurs have got a chance to really reset the whole thing, and I think he would be a key part of that, and certainly he should be looking at getting minutes. He deserves to make it, and I think he can make it, he's a talent.
“It’s all about that opportunity, and if Spurs can offer him that, then I think they will be best served to keep him in there. Otherwise, he'll have options pretty quickly to go elsewhere.”
Who would Vuskovic replace in the Spurs squad?
Tottenham will be looking to overhaul some of the players on the fringes of their squad after narrowly avoiding relegation, but there could a space that opens up for Vuskovic to drop straight into their starting XI.
The futures of both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been seriously uncertain throughout the season, with the former linked with Liverpool and Real Madrid on several occasions.
Romero remains a long-term target for Atletico Madrid, and has once again left Tottenham frustrated by the way that he has carried himself at times this term.
They have both made noises about potentially leaving for a new challenge this summer, and an exit for either would leave the door open for Vuskovic to claim their spot.