Why De Zerbi is risking a Luka Vuskovic repeat with Spurs wonderkid

Daniel Levy is reported to have messaged Simon Jordan earlier this summer to say that Tottenham Hotspur had had their “pants pulled down” amid the ‘swap deal’ involving Luka Vuskovic and Jan Paul van Hecke.

For some, that was merely Levy being bitter following his abrupt exit from N17, yet as it has transpired, the polarising businessman may well have been onto something.

Indeed, with Van Hecke enduring a handful of shaky displays in recent weeks, not least against Coventry City, the form of Vuskovic for high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion has been brought into even sharper focus.

Assessing Vuskovic’s start to life at Brighton

The Seagulls are right in the title mix as things stand following a rampant start to the new Premier League season, having only recently hit rivals Crystal Palace for five at the Amex.

Fabian Hurzeler boasts the league’s most devastating attack right now, having chalked up 23 goals already, although the backline has also quietly shone too, level with Arsenal at the top of the tree in terms of goals conceded (five).

Vuskovic has undoubtedly been central to that, the teenage Croatian helping the south coast side to keep four clean sheets from the first seven games, while scoring once in that time.

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

A monster in both boxes, the 19-year-old notably helped to tee up Jack Hinshelwood’s goal to make it 5-0 at the weekend, while he continues to shine at the other end, having won 6.9 total duels on average this season, alongside 4.4 aerial duels.

That certainly compares favourably to Van Hecke, the Dutchman averaging just 5.7 and 2.9 for those same two metrics, respectively, back in north London.

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

The £52m man Spurs may well prove an inspired signing for Roberto De Zerbi and co, yet letting Vuskovic go looks like a truly disastrous decision.

Why Spurs will live to regret selling Vuskovic

ENIC have given De Zerbi the keys to the kingdom, and the Vuskovic saga shows that better than anything.

Hellbent on reuniting with Van Hecke, the Italian allowed the younger man to head to his former club instead, having seemingly offered no guarantee of game time to the ex-Hajduk Split starlet.

Raking in a £50m or so fee for Vuskovic made financial sense, considering he cost just £12m back in 2023, yet to have not given him a chance to impress at first-team level beggars belief.

Indeed, he left this summer without making a single competitive appearance, having shone on loan at Hamburg last season, scoring six Bundesliga goals.

Having also previously sparkled out in Belgium for Westerlo in 2024/25, prior to officially joining Spurs that summer, Vuskovic had shown enough to suggest he is a real superstar in the making.

Alas, the Lilywhites will have to live with their mistake now – let’s just hope they don’t make another.

Why Spurs are risking Vuskovic repeat with teen sensation

Despite featuring in pre-season last summer under Thomas Frank, the decision was taken for Vuskovic to head out on loan in 2025, with the Bundesliga offering a perfect next step in his career.

With Cristian Romero edging toward an inevitable exit by the end of 2025/26, it appeared Spurs had the perfect in-house replacement ready to go. How good might a Vuskovic and Micky van de Ven pairing have looked?

And yet, De Zerbi had other ideas in mind, with there still nagging concerns over his handling of Tottenham’s crop of young stars.

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

The former Marseille boss notably let Mikey Moore head out on loan to FC Koln, while for all the club’s woes in recent months, he still hasn’t called upon 18-year-old sensation, Luca Williams-Barnett.

The teenage midfielder was earning rave reviews across pre-season, memorably outshining the likes of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in the opener against MK Dons.

Be it as a number six, a number eight, a number ten or a left-winger, Williams-Barnett looks like a real diamond, such a silky, effortlessly gifted talent.

He was handed a brief cameo in the Carabao Cup against Charlton Athletic, although he continues to be overlooked at Premier League level, again remaining an unused substitute last time out.

With just two senior appearances under his belt in total, there is a risk that the youngster might start to get itchy feet, not least with rival clubs now sniffing around.

It was reported earlier this month that Williams-Barnett had been the subject of enquiries from the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, with his current deal set to expire in 2028.

REUTERS/Hollie Adams

Spurs have opened talks regarding a contract extension by all accounts, amid talk of sending him out on loan in January, although, as with Vuskovic, there is a real risk that he might be poached by one of his long list of suitors.

De Zerbi hasn’t exactly shown that there is a clear pathway into the first team for academy talent, and while patience is needed with a player who is still only 18, Williams-Barnett is too good a prospect to overlook.

Having already been left looking a little red-faced by Vuskovic’s stunning start to life at Brighton, Spurs can’t afford to lose another teen wonderkid any time soon.