- The Croatian joined Spurs in September 2023, but will remain with the old club until 2025
- Colleague Alfie Devine also scored yesterday in the 4-3 defeat of KVC Westerlo
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism is gone at Old Trafford
Teenage talent Luka Vskovic can’t join struggling Tottenham soon enough as the up-and-coming defender continues to impress in Belgium, scoring a mesmerizing bicycle kick.
Spurs confirmed the signing of the highly rated 17-year-old from Hajduk Split in September 2023, but the signing came with a caveat: he would remain with the Croatian team until 2025.
Vuskovic was loaned to the Polish Rodamiak for the second half of the season and to the Belgian team KVC Westerlo this season.
The defender caught the attention of top British clubs including Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool after helping Hajduk win the Croatian Cup in 2023.
He also made his debut for the club at the age of 15, becoming their youngest ever goalscorer after finding the net just days after his 16th birthday.
Tottenham may not have expected to regret the delayed arrival too much, but a recent defensive crisis has made Vuskovic’s electric form all the more painful for Ange Postecoglou.
Rising Tottenham defender Luka Vskovic scored a fantastic goal on Boxing Day
The talent signed for Spurs in 2023, but stayed with Hajduk Split and will move in 2025
Fellow loanee Alfie Devine also scored for KVC Westerlo in the 4-3 defeat against Club Brugge
On Boxing Day he scored his sixth league goal of the season for mid-table Westerlo against Club Brugge, and it was one to remember.
A ball comes in from the left flank and finds Australian winger Jordan Bos at the back post, who heads the ball back into the heart of the penalty area.
Out of nowhere, the 6ft 4in Vuskovic throws his long legs into the air and unleashes a bicycle kick that flies past former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
The miracle strike sparked a comeback for Brugge from two goals down, but Westerlo ultimately slumped to a 4–3 defeat, leaving them in 11th place with 23 points from 20 games.
Fellow Spurs loanee Alfie Devine also scored in the defeat, giving Postecoglou even more reason to regret sending the youngsters off as the club’s injury crisis worsens by the day.
Ben Davies, out since suffering a hamstring injury against Bournemouth in early December, returned to training this week ahead of his return against Wolves on Sunday.
But Postecoglou has ruled him out for another ‘few weeks’ after a training setback.
The setback comes after Radu Dragusin limped off with an ankle problem in the final minutes of a Boxing Day defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Ange Postecoglou is currently struggling with an immense injury crisis in his defense
Ben Davies is on the sidelines this month after suffering an injury against Bournemouth
Radu Dragusin, meanwhile, trudged off against Nottingham Forest with an ankle injury
And Djed Spence is banned against Wolves after a red card in stoppage time at the City Ground.
Central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all out with injuries.
“It’s a bit early to say anything about that,” Postecoglou said when asked about the extent of Dragusin’s injury. “He sprained an ankle and felt like he couldn’t continue, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Spurs finished the game at Forest with 18-year-old Archie Gray and midfielder Yves Bissouma in central defense.
“We don’t have many options,” Postecoglou said. ‘We are in a difficult situation and have been for some time.
“We got through it and kept our fingers crossed, but the nature of football and schedules means it’s always a fine line to get through. This is another test and whatever we face, we will tackle.
‘I have never experienced things going so well at this level and in this period. We have had almost ten first-team players unavailable for a significant run of games. It’s definitely a first for me.’