Thomas Frank has a big decision brewing on teenage centre-half Luka Vuskovic with a clamour of interest from Bundesliga clubs keen to take him on loan for the season.
Vuskovic is 18 years old and has just arrived at Tottenham, who paid £12million to Hajduk Split to sign him at the age of 16 and sent him on loan for six months in Poland and a year in Belgium.
His progress has been rapid, and he is already shaping up to be a transfer coup.
At Westerlo last season he became an established first-team regular and one of the favourites among fans, scoring seven goals from central defence including an overhead kick against Bruges that won the Pro League’s Goal of the Season prize.
Vuskovic registered a goal and an assist within eight minutes of his first game in Spurs colours, a 2-0 win in a preseason friendly at Reading on Saturday and his performances in training have been strong.
Frank has been impressed but has a cluster of central defenders ahead of Vuskovic in terms of seniority.
World Cup winner Cristian Romero will be the leading contender to be captain if Heung min Son is sold to LAFC as expected after the preseason tour to Asia.
Atletico Madrid wanted Romero but interest has cooled since Spurs made it clear they would not consider a fee lower than £60million for the Argentine whose partnership in central defence with Micky van de Ven was at the heart of their success in the Europa League last season.
Kevin Danso has joined permanently after his initial loan spell from Lens and Radu Dragusin is also at the club, although still recovering from a serious knee injury.
Ben Davies, who can play in central defence, was deployed as a left-back by Frank at Reading last weekend.
Spurs must decide what is best for Vuskovic to ensure his rapid progress does not stall. There is lots of interest from Germany but if he is to go out on loan Frank and his coaching staff may prefer the idea of blooding him in English football.
