Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to sign HNK Hajduk Split’s defensive prospect and Chelsea target Luka Vuskovic, which could result in a surprise January departure for veteran Ivan Perisic.
Ivan Perisic could complete an emotional return to boyhood club Hajduk Split as a result of Tottenham Hotspur agreeing to sign Luka Vuskovic from the Croatian outfit. That’s according to a report from the Evening Standard, which states the Croatian First League side “believe they are at the front of the queue” to offer Perisic his next step after his spell with Spurs.
The transfer window has recently closed, but Tottenham appear to be closing in on the signing of a really exciting prodigy, who is likely to be officially transferred to the club in 2024.
Spurs are set to sign 16-year-old Croatian wonderkid Vuskovic from Hajduk Split. The 6ft 4in tall centre-back has been catching the eye of several of Europe’s biggest clubs since making his first-team debut for Hajduk Split back in February.
Since then, he has gone on to make 11 appearances for his boyhood club, helping them win last season’s Croatian Football Cup. He has also played the same number of games for Croatia at various youth levels.
A future superstar in the making, interest in Vuskovic was high, with free-spenders Chelsea among the sides trying to land his signature. The Blues have done a fine job of acquiring young players since the arrival of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, but it seems Mauricio Pochettino’s side seems to have missed the boat with Vuskovic’s chase.
In the end, Spurs seems to have secured his services, with the Evening Standard reporting that the Lilywhites have agreed a £12 million fee with Hajduk, with personal terms all wrapped up, but it has now emerged that Vuskovic’s transfer opens a door for Perisic’s return to his boyhood club, whom he represented between 1995 and 2006 before signing for Sochaux.
Although the talented teenager will not arrive at Tottenham until he turns 18 years old in 2025 due to FIFA regulations, Perisic could head in the opposite direction when the January transfer window opens.
The 34-year-old joined Spurs during last summer’s transfer window on a free transfer from Inter Milan under Antonio Conte. The Italian manager managed him at Inter Milan and brought him to north London for his wing-back system.
However, since Conte left Tottenham, Perisic’s future with Spurs has become uncertain. With the returning Destiny Udogie cementing his place as Ange Postecoglou’s first-choice left-back in a 4-3-3, Perisic has been relegated to a fringe role in the early weeks of the season.
He signed a two-year deal with Tottenham but will not see out the second year of the contract. Given that they paid nothing to get Perisic to North London, Spurs would probably have no concerns about letting him go for free in January, as that would also help them offload his wages.
Although Perisic is said to be considering all of his options ahead of the expiry of his contract next summer, with no shortage of suitors despite his advancing years, Hajduk Split are interested in a reunion with the 34-year-old and feel optimistic about their chances of bringing him back to his boyhood club.
