Tottenham have snapped up a centre-back “goal threat” who many believe could even outshine Van de Ven.
Tottenham Hotspur have been inconsistent this season, but their long-term future looks bright thanks to a string of exciting young signings in recent years. And no player represents this new direction better than Micky van de Ven. At 24, he has become a central figure for Spurs.
How Van de Ven is becoming Tottenham’s key man
Though no longer a newcomer, with 51 Premier League games under his belt, Van de Ven is still years away from his peak as a centre-back. His mix of raw power and blistering pace has turned him into a standout performer, with journalist Sonny Snelling calling him “world-class.” Tottenham will need to hold onto him for years to come, as few defenders in the league are as influential. Finding someone who can replicate his unique qualities would be a tall order.
Yet Spurs may have already secured a player capable of matching – or even surpassing – him.
Spurs may have landed an even bigger talent
While Van de Ven offers a rare profile, Tottenham’s signing of Luka Vuskovic brings a different kind of elite potential. The 18-year-old, labelled a “freak talent” and “freak athlete” by analyst Ben Mattinson, is currently on loan at Hamburger SV after Spurs sealed his transfer in 2023. Despite his age, he has quickly become a key part of Hamburg’s defence in the Bundesliga.
The Croatian prospect’s early-season numbers make the growing hype easy to understand – and in several areas, he has even outshone Van de Ven.
League Stats 25/26 – Van de Ven vs Vuskovic
(per game)
Matches (starts): Van de Ven 11 (11) | Vuskovic 8 (8)
Goals: 3 | 1
Assists: 0 | 0
Clean sheets: 3 | 2
Touches: 69.9 | 82.5
Accurate passes: 54.6 (92%) | 53.0 (86%)
Chances created: 0.2 | 0.8
Dribbles: 0.3 | 0.3
Recoveries: 3.7 | 4.4
Tackles + interceptions: 2.3 | 1.6
Clearances: 3.4 | 9.8
Duels won: 3.1 (53%) | 8.9 (72%)
Given these numbers, the 6ft 4 defender has all the makings of a future leader at the heart of Tottenham’s backline, potentially surpassing both Van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
WhoScored even rate Vuskovic highly enough to place him in the European Team of the Season so far, ahead of established names like Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães. And with U23 scout Antonio Mango describing him as “turning into a goal machine” after scoring seven times on loan at KVC Westerlo in 2024/25, his all-round potential is clear.
Vuskovic still has development ahead, but there’s little doubt he is a rising star. Should he one day line up alongside Van de Ven, he may even go on to eclipse him.
