United and Liverpool Alerted to Vuskovic's Tottenham Exit as Brighton Lead £60m Chase

Manchester United and Liverpool have been put on alert regarding the possibility of landing Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham in a £60million transfer, with Brighton currently holding pole position in the race for the young defender's signature.

The 19-year-old is understood to be weighing up his future at Spurs following the club's recruitment of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi in defence, fearing a prolonged spell on the sidelines in north London. Brighton have moved decisively, agreeing personal terms with the player's representatives and tabling two separate offers to the Tottenham hierarchy.

The Seagulls' opening gambit came in at £30million, with a second proposal of £45million following shortly after. Both fell well short of Spurs' £60million valuation, resulting in swift rejections from Daniel Levy's outfit.

According to reports, both Old Trafford and Anfield could yet throw their hats into the ring, potentially sparking a "fierce battle" for Vuskovic's services. The pair have been impressed by the centre-back's performances during a loan spell at Hamburg, where his "aggressive and dominant" approach caught the eye. Notably, he's also chipped in with six goals across 30 appearances in Germany—a rare attacking threat from the back line.

United have been warned that passing up this opportunity could prove a costly oversight, with Vuskovic identified as a potential long-term partner for Harry Maguire or, indeed, his eventual successor. Liverpool, similarly, are hunting for defensive reinforcements as they look ahead, particularly with Ibrahima Konate's departure on a free transfer and Virgil van Dijk's career entering its final chapters.

That said, it's worth noting the reports appear to be more suggestive than confirmatory—neither club has actively moved for the Croatian World Cup international just yet.

Brighton's Confidence Remains Undimmed

Brighton's confidence in landing Vuskovic remains buoyant despite the second bid rejection, according to reports from the weekend. However, United have other defensive targets higher on their shopping list this summer. Tottenham's Micky van de Ven sits among their priorities, while RB Leipzig's Castello Lukeba and Nottingham Forest's Murillo are also under consideration.

The priority at United, though, remains bolstering the midfield. A £35million agreement with Atalanta for Brazilian midfielder Ederson has already been sealed, while a tussle with Spurs over West Ham's Mateus Fernandes continues to rumble on. Should Manuel Ugarte depart, Alex Scott or Carlos Baleba could arrive as a third midfield recruit.

Defence, it seems, will have to wait.