Luka Vuskovic Set to Shine for Croatia at the 2026 World Cup – but What Does His Tottenham Future Look Like?

Tottenham Hotspur splashed just over £170 million during a summer transfer window that saw Premier League clubs set a new record for combined spend.

While the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons dominated the headlines, Tottenham’s £12m signing of Luka Vuskovic from Hajduk Split might just have been their best bit of business.

Vuskovic impressed for Tottenham during pre-season, scoring a goal and assisting another in a 2-0 win over Reading in July.

He was then an unused substitute for Tottenham’s first three competitive fixtures of the season before being loaned out to Hamburg late in the transfer window.

Has Luka Vuskovic impressed for Hamburg?

Vuskovic did not enjoy the best of debuts for Hamburg, losing 5-0 away at Bayern Munich — recently hailed as one of the best teams in the world — in his first Bundesliga game.

But Hamburg stuck with the 18-year-old and he has rewarded that faith with some excellent form. Vuskovic scored his second Bundesliga goal of the season on Sunday when he found the net with a stylish scorpion kick in a 3-2 win over Werder Bremen.

Vuskovic is the most dominant player in the air in the Bundesliga this season, winning 5.3 aerial duels per match. He also makes more clearances — 8.8 per game — than any other player.

Meanwhile, he ranks third in the league for most blocks, averaging 1.3 per game.

But Vuskovic has also looked very confident in possession. He has completed 85.5% of his 656 passes, while seven of his passes have directly created scoring chances for teammates.

Luka Vuskovic’s key Bundesliga stats

International debut for Croatia

Having previously shone at U15, U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels, Vuskovic was handed his senior international debut as a late substitute in Croatia’s 5-1 win over the Czech Republic in June.

Vuskovic then made his first senior start for Croatia last month in a 3-1 victory over the Faroe Islands. During this game, he ranked first for aerial duels with eight, while also making more interceptions (two) and more clearances (seven) than any other Croatia player.

It is widely expected that Vuskovic will be part of the Croatia squad for the 2026 World Cup. Croatia will be one of England’s World Cup Group L opponents, with their head-to-head record currently in favour of the Three Lions.

Will Luka Vuskovic be a first-team player for Tottenham in 2026/27?

Vuskovic’s form for Hamburg this season suggests he is good enough to play for Tottenham in the Premier League.

But it is less clear whether he might be in a position to start regularly at Spurs, who — in Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven — already have two of the best centre-backs in England.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has generally opted to play with just two central defenders in a back four this season. However, he has occasionally set up his team in a 5-3-2 formation, with Kevin Danso as the extra man in the middle.

It is plausible that Spurs could switch to playing with a back three on a regular basis in future. They often used a similar system under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who deployed Eric Dier as a defender with the licence to step into midfield.

Should Spurs revert to such a formation, then Vuskovic might emerge as a regular starter. Otherwise, a squad role seems a more realistic target for him next season.

Transfer interest in Luka Vuskovic

Being a squad player for Tottenham would feel like an excellent achievement for most teenagers — Vuskovic will be 19 at the start of the 2026/27 season.

However, Vuskovic has grown accustomed to first-team football in recent years. He has not missed a single minute of Bundesliga action since joining Hamburg on loan, having played 36 league games for Belgian side Westerlo in the 2024/25 campaign.

Should Vuskovic insist on being a regular starter again next season, he could be tempted by a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With his comfort in the Bundesliga, both Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are understood to hold strong interest in signing him.