토트넘은 아직 단 한 경기도 뛰지 않은 유망주에게 9천만 파운드를 투자하는 것은 큰 실수가 될 수 있다는 경고를 받았다.

Brighton could end up doubling their money if they can prise Luka Vuskovic away from Tottenham.

That was the verdict of talkSPORT’s European football expert Andy Brassell, who warned Spurs they could regret letting the 19-year-old go.

Vuskovic came head-to-head with England in Croatia’s opening World Cup gameGetty

The centre-back, who came up against Harry Kane for Croatia at the World Cup last week, has told the north London club he wants to leave this summer.

Brighton have made three bids for the defender, who spent last season on loan at Hamburg.

The third of those is believed to be in the region of £45million.

The 19-year-old is not happy at the prospect of being sent out on loan, or a lack of gametime at Spurs following the additions of Marcos Senesi and of Jan Paul van Hecke. 

Tempting Vuskovic offer

Brassell told talkSPORT’s The Window: “Oh my goodness it’s a lot of money, but the reality is the market for absolute top-level centre-backs is a little thin. 

“He’s quick learner, still only 19 years old, but I think you know you can tick off all the things that he does really.

“He’s very physical, he’s decent on the ball. I think the main thing about Vuskovic, and this is why if I was Tottenham I would really want to keep him, is he’s a leader and you saw that at Hamburg. The other players from minute one looked to him.

“Look at his debut. He played Harry Kane, just like he did here, and they lost 5-0 which considering Hamburg’s history in Bayern is actually not that bad a result. 

“He came out and spoke afterwards and while everyone else was going oh well we always get beaten by Bayern but he was like ‘yeah I should have done better’ even though he played Harry Kane quite well.

“Even though he’s a kid really who shouldn’t really have had any expectations on him. He expects a lot of himself. I think his technique is absolutely fantastic. He can also add goals to the mix as well as he did last season.”

Vuskovic has played a handful of times for Croatia but already has a good reputationGetty

Brassell, who last month said Spurs should build around Vuskovic, added: “I’d be loath to lose him if I was Tottenham, but again I think there’s probably a biting point.

“£45 million for somebody who’s never played for the first team is pretty tempting, but then again you know how Brighton develop players.

“You think if you sell into Brighton for 45 what are they gonna sell him for in a year and a half? 

“You don’t want to be that team who sells to Brighton and then sees him flipped for twice or three times the price a little bit down the line.”

Brighton’s transfer profits

The Seagulls know how to get maximum profits from their players, turning cheap signings into big money transfers.

Van Hecke was purchased for just £1.8m and sold for nearly 30 times as much.

Van Hecke is the biggest name to join De Zerbi’s Spurs revolutionGetty

Moises Caicedo cost just £4m and Chelsea ended up paying a then Premier League record of £115m in 2023.

Stamford Bridge has been a lucrative income stream for Brighton, selling Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro for a combined £123m.

In total, they cost the club £45.4m to sign.