Luka Vuskovic: Brighton make improved £45m bid for Tottenham defender

Brighton have made an improved offer to Tottenham Hotspur for centre-back Luka Vuskovic.

The latest package is worth £45m in total including add-ons.

Vuskovic spent last season on loan at Bundesliga club Hamburg and is currently at the World Cup with Croatia, where he played in the 4-2 defeat to England on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Spurs completed a £52m deal for Brighton defender Jan Paul Van Hecke.

The Netherlands international defender had one year left on his contract at Brighton and played at the Seagulls under Roberto De Zerbi between 2023 and 2024.

Brighton made a considerable profit on the 26-year-old, having signed him for £1.8m from NAC Breda in 2020. It is understood the Seagulls have also negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on clause.

Van Hecke is Tottenham's third signing of the De Zerbi era, after Marco Sensi and Andy Robertson joined on free transfers.

Spurs adding Van Hecke and Senesi to their ranks moves Vuskovic further down the pecking order, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven still at the north London club.

Vuskovic, who established himself as one of Europe's best young defenders on loan at Hamburg, wants to be a regular starter now but is not interested in another temporary move.

His prospects of being a first-team regular at Spurs next season appear slim now, with Van Hecke joining Senesi as a new signing this summer. If Van de Ven and Romero stay, Vuskovic will realistically be Spurs' fifth choice.

Romero's future is uncertain, just as it was last summer before he signed a new deal, but it remains to be seen if there are any clubs that would pay enough to convince Spurs to sell.

There is a real feeling at Spurs that Vuskovic could become one of the best defenders in the world but that he is not quite ready to make that step to being a regular starter in the Premier League.

There are parallels to the situation Arsenal had with William Saliba. The France international had three loans in Ligue 1 before being fully integrated into the first-team picture and becoming one of the Premier League's best defenders.

Spurs have plans to spend big this summer and, naturally, that will lead to player sales. However, in an ideal world, they will raise funds elsewhere on players who are not part of De Zerbi's future plans.

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic says it is important that Vuskovic finds a club where he will play regularly. Spurs agree but can only offer a loan. Brighton can give the teenager what he wants but are unwilling to overpay. This situation could rumble on.

Barcelona are among a number of clubs keeping an eye on Van de Ven's situation at Tottenham.

Van de Ven, who also has interest from the Premier League, has held initial talks with Spurs over a contract extension but there is no agreement yet.

The Netherlands international has two years left on his deal with Spurs holding an option to extend for a further 12 months.

Spurs want him to stay long-term, and De Zerbi has described him as the best left-sided central defender in the Premier League.

The Sunday 2pm kick-off at the Amex Stadium comes just three days after their Conference League play-off round first leg, with their opponents for that European tie to be decided on August 3.