Luka Vuskovic has earned glowing praise from Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa ahead of the defender’s highly anticipated return to Tottenham Hotspur.
The teenage centre-back has enjoyed a remarkable season in Germany, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders while significantly boosting his reputation and market value.
Vuskovic has played a major role in Hamburg’s successful Premier League campaign, with the club producing far stronger performances whenever the Spurs loanee has featured.
As the 19-year-old prepares for his final appearance for HSV against Bayer Leverkusen this weekend, Costa admitted replacing the Croatian will be almost impossible.
Speaking to Fussball Transfers, the Hamburg chief said:
“Replacing him with someone of equal calibre will be impossible, even though we have played successfully without him.
“Luka is an exceptional player, but also an exceptional personality. At 18, he showed leadership qualities you would normally expect from a 28-year-old professional.
“Add to that the connection and history surrounding the Vuskovic family name. Everyone was excited about him from the start.”
The comments will only excite Tottenham supporters further, with many already expecting Vuskovic to become a key figure in the first team next season.
The defender’s performances have reportedly attracted interest from top European clubs including FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC.
However, Spurs are said to be determined to keep hold of the youngster and are reportedly working on a new contract to ward off potential suitors.
Recent reports have also suggested Tottenham have informed interested clubs that Vuskovic is not available for transfer under any circumstances, with the North London side already planning a major first-team role for the highly-rated centre-back next season.
