Barcelona-linked teenage center-back sees his market value skyrocket – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are definitely in need of making at least one centre-back signing in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Catalan club are very light in that department, with Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia having to play almost every single game.

Among the many names linked with the club, one is Luka Vuskovic. He is starting to look like one of those names Barcelona cannot ignore for much longer. The 19-year-old centre-back has been on the club’s radar for months.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Transfermarkt has raised the Croatian defender’s valuation by €20 million, taking him from €40 million to €60 million. It is the clearest sign yet that his strong season at Hamburg, where he is on loan from Tottenham, is being noticed across Europe.

His profile is what makes him so attractive. Vuskovic stands at 1.93 metres, is comfortable both with and without the ball, and has even added goals to his game, scoring five times this season. For a teenager, that is an unusually complete package.

Barca’s interest is not new. The report says the club has had his name on its agenda as a possible reinforcement, while his agent, Pini Zahavi, has strong ties with Barcelona. However, any potential deal would be easier said than done.

Vuskovic is under contract with Tottenham until 2030, Hamburg would love to keep him for another year, and Spurs’ own situation matters too, with the English side still fighting to stay clear of the relegation zone.

From a Barcelona point of view, that uncertainty can work both ways. It may open a door, but it can also create a longer queue. Once a young defender starts rising this fast, the price usually keeps climbing and the list of interested clubs only gets longer. The last thing the Catalan club can afford is to get sucked into a bidding war.

Signing another teenager to partner Pau Cubarsi has the potential to become a masterstroke for the next decade and beyond, but it could also lead to some inexperience in the back line. We will have to wait and see how things play out on this front in the coming months.