Why Tottenham have sold Luka Vuskovic after transfer request threat | OneFootball

Hugely talented centre-back has joined Brighton in a deal worth £50m

Luka Vuskovic has joined Brighton from Tottenham in a deal worth up to £50million.

The centre-back, one of the most highly rated youngsters in Europe, was keen to play regular first-team football at Spurs next season, a role Roberto De Zerbi was unable to guarantee.

Vuksovic was prepared to hand in a transfer request to force an exit amid escalating interest from Brighton, who saw at least two bids rejected before agreeing a fee worth an initial £46m.

Standard Sport understands that Spurs retain a 20 per cent sell-on clause and matching rights for any agreed sale in the future, which allows the defender to return to north London in the future.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said: “Luka has enjoyed a fantastic start to his career - it’s one we’ve followed closely.

“Last season he demonstrated he can play at a very high level and we want to help him build on that within our environment.

“There’s been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young guy who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and the Premier League. We are confident that he will take this in his stride though.”

Spurs had hoped to keep Vuskovic this summer, or send him out on another loan after a hugely successful spell at Hamburg, but the player and his representatives made clear a desire for a permanent exit if regular minutes were not forthcoming.

The deal marks the biggest transfer fee Spurs have received for a player who has never made a competitive first team appearance for the club, and is the third-biggest sale the club has made in past decade.

Vuskovic started Croatia’s World Cup opener against England but did not manage to play a further minute in his nations next four games before elimination.