18-year-old Tottenham loanee’s father discusses son’s future amid Barcelona interest | OneFootball

The winter window planning at FC Barcelona is being shaped by patience rather than pressure. With Andreas Christensen sidelined and central defence remaining the least covered area of the squad, the club is exploring the market without committing to an immediate move. The internal message is to stay alert while prioritising long term stability over short term fixes.

That strategy has led Barcelona to closely monitor a number of young defensive profiles who could fit into a broader rebuild. Deco and Hansi Flick are aligned on targeting centre-backs with personality, tactical intelligence, and significant room for growth. It is within that context that Luka Vuskovic has emerged as a name of interest.

The 18-year-old Croatian defender is currently enjoying a breakout season at Hamburg in the Bundesliga, where he is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

His progress has been tracked closely in Germany, and local reports have indicated that Barcelona are among the clubs following his development. The interest is exploratory rather than urgent, but it reflects how highly his profile is rated.

Vuskovic is under contract with Tottenham until 2030, having joined the Premier League club from Hajduk Split in 2023 for a fee of €11 million. Since then, his market value has risen sharply and is now estimated at €40 million. Despite that rise, his future remains uncertain, a point his father Daniel Vuskovic addressed directly.

Speaking to Sportske Novosti in comments cited by Mundo Deportivo, he said, “I don’t know if Tottenham only sees him as a future player or if they would be open to a transfer if a suitable offer came in.”

His remarks underline the reality that Spurs hold full control over any decision, regardless of outside interest.

Daniel Vuskovic also stressed that patience remains essential given his son’s age and current progress in Germany. “The goal is to play in the World Cup with Croatia,” he explained, adding that at this stage that requires “succeeding with Hamburg.” As a result, there is no intention to disrupt Luka’s momentum midway through the season.

The young defender has already established himself as a leader in Hamburg’s back line, and his comfort at the club is evident. There is also a strong personal motivation involved. “His biggest wish is to play with Mario,” his father confirmed, referring to Luka’s older brother, who is also a centre back and is currently suspended until November 2026.

For that family reunion on the pitch to happen, Luka would need to extend his loan spell, although that scenario is far from straightforward. In Germany, it is considered unlikely that Tottenham will agree to another loan, especially given the level of interest surrounding the player.

Daniel Vuskovic made it clear that any next step will be taken calmly and in coordination with Spurs. “What happens does not depend on Luka. He has a contract with Tottenham, and everything will be decided in consultation with them. But so far, everything has been as fair as possible; the Spurs have respected Luka’s opinion,” he said.

The immediate plan is already set. “We expect positive results from him in Hamburg over the next six months, and then we can calmly consider how to proceed. He will stay in Hamburg until June, and then we will meet with Tottenham to see what the best option is.”

He also expressed caution about accelerating his son’s career too quickly. “I don’t want him to skip development stages and go straight to the English Premier League, which I think is the strongest league in the world. Luka still has a lot of potential to develop. In my opinion, staying in Germany wouldn’t be bad. For Luka, the most important thing in 2026 is to continue training and working as he has been. After that, everything else will fall into place.”

Photo Courtesy: The official website of FC Barcelona

That timeline aligns neatly with Barcelona’s own thinking. The club is not looking to disrupt its structure in January unless absolutely necessary. Instead, they are assessing whether a talent like Vuskovic could fit into a broader rebuild.

From a Barça perspective, the appeal is obvious. A left-sided, ball-playing centre-back with maturity beyond his years fits the profile the club has historically valued. But this is not about urgency or headlines. It is about timing and trust.

In many ways, Vuskovic represents the type of player that Barcelona can benefit from in the long run. Whether or not he eventually arrives at Camp Nou remains to be seen.