FC Liverpool story: Vuskovic could become a pricier transfer

Liverpool FC is planning a signing of Croatian international Luka Vuskovic from Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, according to Sky. The Reds are specifically targeting the 19‑year‑old centre‑back, who is having an excellent season with the English surprise team.

A move to Anfield Road, however, still faces several hurdles. For one, a departure from Brighton after this season is by no means certain.

Costs and Contract Situation

If a transfer materialises in the summer of 2027, the fee would be at least €100 million. Vuskovic's ultimate goal remains, in perspective, the Spanish top club Real Madrid. In the 2025/26 season he played on loan at Hamburger SV and left a brilliant impression on the then‑promoted Bundesliga side. The Hamburgers wanted to keep him, but were unable to.

Instead, he returned to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur and was sold by them for €54 million to the Seagulls. In Brighton, Vuskovic signed a contract until 2031 with an option for an additional year.

Liverpool chase Brighton’s €100m centre‑back Luka Vuskovic

Performance and Importance

Under coach Fabian Hürzeler he is a regular starter and key performer in central defence. So far he has played 16 league matches, scoring one goal and providing two assists. He is instrumental in Brighton currently shaking up the Premier League and, as runners‑up, being the primary challenger to title‑defending Arsenal. After the tenth matchday Liverpool sit three points and two places behind Brighton and Vuskovic.

Next summer some changes could occur in Liverpool's defence, as the contracts of captain Virgil van Dijk (35) and Joe Gomez (29) are set to expire. The future of Ronald Araujo (27), who is on loan from Barcelona, is also uncertain. Giovanni Leoni (19) remains a big question mark, after he suffered an ACL tear following his €30 million transfer from Parma in 2025 and has been out ever since. Jeremy Jacquet (21) remains the only fixed piece for the medium‑term defensive future under coach Andoni Iraola.

A purchase at the fee cited by Sky would place Vuskovic among the most expensive transfers in Liverpool FC's history. Only Alexander Isak (2025, €145 million), Bradley Barcola (2026, €125 million) and Florian Wirtz (2025, €125 million) cost the 20‑time English champions more than €100 million each. This would also make him the most expensive defender in history, surpassing the previous record held by Josko Gvardiol (24), for whom Manchester City paid €90 million to RB Leipzig in 2023.