Tottenham has been seriously hit with centre-back injuries. With van de Ven, Romero, Dragusin, and Davies sidelined, they do not have a fit centre-back. However, a Croatian wonderkid could be the answer to their defensive woes, but a major hurdle stands in the way.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is currently navigating a challenging period, as a string of injuries has severely depleted his defensive options.
Both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, two of Spurs’ most crucial defenders, have struggled to maintain fitness, with the pair missing a decent amount of Tottenham games so far this season.
Adding to the chaos, Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin have also been sidelined, leaving the north London club woefully short at the back.
To make matters worse, the Boxing Day clash against Nottingham Forest delivered another blow. Djed Spence, who had been filling in admirably despite the team’s struggles, received a one-match ban after picking up two yellow cards.
His dismissal compounded the misery as Tottenham succumbed to a 1-0 defeat, deepening Postecoglou’s defensive dilemma.
This precarious situation has prompted some to wonder whether Tottenham can accelerate the arrival of Luka Vuskovic, the highly-rated Croatian defender they signed from Hajduk Split in September 2023 for a reported fee of £12m.
However, bringing the teenager to N17 before the summer transfer window appears to be a complex issue tied to regulatory constraints.
Luka Vuskovic is widely regarded as one of the most promising young defenders in European football.
At just 17 years of age, the 6ft 5in centre-back has already demonstrated immense potential, which convinced Tottenham to fend off competition from Manchester City to secure his signature.
Nevertheless, the Croatian sensation remains unavailable to Spurs until the summer, creating frustration among fans and management alike. The reason for the delay lies in the Brexit immigration rules that govern Premier League clubs.
Under these regulations, foreign players under the age of 18 cannot be registered by English teams. Vuskovic, who turns 18 in February 2024, does not meet the age requirement in time for the January transfer window, which closes at the end of the month.
This means that Postecoglou will need to wait until the summer before he can begin working with the Croatian prodigy. For now, Vuskovic remains on loan at Westerlo, where he continues to impress.
While Luka Vuskovic’s arrival will undoubtedly strengthen Tottenham’s defensive options, it would be overly simplistic to view him as the singular solution to the club’s current woes.
The teenager’s potential is immense, and his impressive performances in the Jupiler Pro League have proven that he can be a generational talent. I mean his stats show that he can perform on both ends of the pitch after getting six goals and an assist in 20 league games.
While that is impressive, I believe that defensive solidity at Spurs will require a collective improvement and sustained fitness across the squad. Vuskovic’s addition, however, is certainly a step in the right direction.
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