Barcelona plot stunning Tottenham raid: More damaging than relegation?

Barcelona are serious about signing Tottenham wonderkid Luka Vuskovic, who is becoming one of Europe’s most in-demand players on loan at Hamburger SV.

The 19-year-old is enjoying a remarkable season in the Bundesliga. Vuskovic has been a standout performer for promoted HSV, playing a huge role as they have opened up a four-point cushion on the relegation playoff spot.

Germany legend Lothar Matthaus recently described the teenager as playing with the assuredness of someone who has been “to three World Cups” and expressed his belief that the young defender is a generational talent.

His future beyond this season is completely up in the air. On paper, he will return to parent club Tottenham. However, with Spurs at serious risk of getting relegated from the Premier League, it seems unlikely that the Croatian prodigy will stay.

HSV dream of keeping him around for another season, and they have a unique selling point: his brother Mario. The elder Vuskovic was suspended in 2022 after testing positive for a banned substance. He will finally return in November, and Luka has stated that he wants to play with him at HSV.

Barcelona enter Vuskovic race

At present, however, it is deemed unlikely that HSV will be able to keep hold of the 19-year-old. Instead, Vuskovic could be on his way to Catalunya, according to Sky Germany.

It is claimed that Barcelona have firmly entered the race for the defender, who is viewed as a potential replacement for Andreas Christensen. Contrary to some reports, there have thus far been no contract talks with the Dane.

Hansi Flick is said to be a huge admirer of Vuskovic. Both are represented by Pini Zahavi, which has given rise to the belief that the superagent is behind Barcelona’s interest. Zahavi is known to have an incredibly close relationship with senior figures at the club, most notably Joan Laporta.

Ultimately, Tottenham remain in control of the situation, but it is a genuine possibility that they will have to let Vuskovic depart in the summer. This would be a gigantic blow, and would be made all the more damaging if they were to also suffer relegation.

Although Vuskovic is still developing, he has shown that he has the potential to become a Harry Kane or Son Heung-min-level player. Spurs have been crying out for truly world-class stars, and now that they again have one on their books, they could lose him before he has even played a competitive game for them.

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