A third bid is coming for Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic.
Brighton will make an improved third bid for Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic, named as their ‘top target,’ per Football Insider.
Brighton and Spurs are locked into negotiations over two deals. The north London club have so far made two attempts to sign Jan Paul van Hecke, while the Seagulls are about to make their third for Vuskovic.
It is reported that after £30million was knocked back by Tottenham, Brighton will make an improved bid for a player named as their ‘top target.’
Whether they’re able to get close to Spurs’ valuation is a big question, though. Elsewhere, it’s been reported that if they are to let Vuskovic leave, Tottenham want £60million.
The Seagulls have never paid more than £40million for one player, and though Vuskovic’s ceiling is high, it feels unlikely they’ll smash their previous record transfer for a player who has one season in a top-five European league under his belt.
The report also states Tottenham are extremely reluctant to let their promising young centre-back go, but there is a growing sense that he wants to make a move to Brighton, where he’s more likely to play regular football.
It has previously been suggested that Vuskovic could again be loaned out, and that Spurs see him as being able to become one of Europe’s elite centre-backs.
But after being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season during his loan with Hamburg, it’s not unfair for the 19-year-old to feel he’s worthy of a starting spot in the Premier League.
Van Hecke deal linked
There is also a sense that a move for Van Hecke amid negotiations for Vuskovic, or vice versa, could kick off a deal for the other.
Should Tottenham let Vuskovic go, Brighton could be more willing to accept an offer for Van Hecke, and the same in the other direction.
But the issues currently are the fees involved. Spurs have seen a £50million offer knocked back and are believed to be going back to the table with £55million.
But a fee as large as £70million has been mentioned for Van Hecke, and it’s not clear whether Tottenham will stretch to that.
It seems fair enough that the Brighton man would be more expensive than Vuskovic, given he has seasons of Premier League experience under his belt and is playing for Netherlands at the World Cup.
Whether either man makes a move this summer remains to be seen, as neither transfer appears to be particularly close yet.