Tottenham face losing wonderkid as Thomas Frank warned ‘he is not coming back

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank has reportedly been informed that Luka Vuskovic is unlikely to return to the club after an outstanding season on loan. The defender joined Bundesliga side Hamburg on a season-long deal last summer and has made 17 league appearances, scoring four goals.

While Spurs may have anticipated Vuskovic returning to north London ready to compete for a first-team role, indications now suggest he could be on course for a permanent exit. Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has claimed the club will lose the youngster without him ever playing for the senior side. Posting on X, Vega criticised Spurs’ decision-making, stating that the club missed an opportunity with the player and highlighting what he described as a lack of football direction, despite the likelihood of a profitable sale. He also suggested a move to Bayern Munich would be understandable.

Vega is not alone in expressing doubts over Vuskovic’s long-term future at Tottenham. Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has publicly encouraged Bayern Munich to pursue the 18-year-old, describing him as one of the most talked-about young defenders in Europe. Rakitic said Vuskovic has all the attributes required to become a top centre-back and questioned whether Spurs would be able to keep him beyond the summer, adding that he already appears ready to step up to one of Europe’s elite clubs.

Vuskovic joined Tottenham from Hajduk Split in a £12 million deal in 2023, although the transfer was delayed until he turned 18 due to Brexit regulations. Since then, he has spent time on loan at Radomiak in Poland and Westerlo in Belgium before his current spell in Germany. His contract with Spurs runs until 2030.

Hamburg are keen to extend his loan beyond the end of the season, although that could prove difficult. Tottenham currently have several centre-back options, including Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, while young defenders Ashley Phillips and Kota Takai are gaining experience on loan at Stoke City and Borussia Mönchengladbach respectively.