Tottenham have set a price tag for Luka Vuskovic as Barcelona push for a permanent deal

Roberto De Zerbi has kept Tottenham in the Premier League by a narrow margin, but the hard work is yet to begin.

A team that limped to 17th place and narrowly avoided a nightmare relegation to the Championship is in need of a major overhaul, and the summer will be defined by how quickly the club can reshape the squad in the Italian’s vision.

The first steps have been encouraging.

Marcos Senesi has agreed in principle to join on a free transfer from Bournemouth, adding proven Premier League quality to the defender.

However, Andy Robertson’s deal, which appeared close to being finalized after weeks of advanced negotiations, has been put in jeopardy.

Fabrizio Romano, Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio and others reported on Monday night that Juventus had made an offer to hijack the decision, leaving the 32-year-old Scotland captain with the choice of whether to stay in England or go to Turin.

Spurs remain in the lead, but a deal has not been signed, and uncertainty is unacceptable.

Amidst all the news coming in, Vuskovic remains the target of top clubs.

Tottenham have set a price tag for Luka Vuskovic as Barcelona push for a deal

The Croatian spent the season on loan at Hamburg, where he emerged as one of the most sought-after young players in European football.

According to SportsBoom, Tottenham have placed an asking price between £51m and £59m for the youngster, who signed from Hajduk Split for less than £10m.

The profit margin is huge, and the queue of clubs willing to test Spurs’ determination is growing by the day.

Barcelona is the best.

SportsBoom reports that the Catalans want a permanent deal and rule out any loan deal, looking to position Vuskovic as the long-term anchor of their defensive project.

Bayern Munich accepted the same situation – no temporary fixes, only full transfers. Liverpool have also quietly entered the race, while Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are all monitoring the situation.

Dortmund’s interest comes with a caveat.

The Bundesliga club want Vuskovic on a one-year loan with a buyout clause to replace the retired Niklas Sule, but Spurs have blocked that move completely, refusing to entertain any deal that does not involve a permanent sale of their value.

Vuskovic’s Bundesliga numbers explain the noise.

Six goals in 28 league games for Hamburg – an impressive return for a young defender – and four appearances for Croatia and a call-up to their World Cup squad.

He was named in the Bundesliga team of the season, won Rookie of the Month four times, and recorded the highest duel success rate in the division.

At 1.93m, he dominates in the air, but it’s his poise in handling the ball and willingness to take the ball forward that sets him apart from defenders twice his age.

De Zerbi is reported to want to test Vuskovic in the pre-season before making any decision, while Football Insider reported earlier this month that the club are preparing a lucrative new long-term contract to fend off suitors.

But if Barcelona or Bayern put in an offer north of £50m, the temptation to cash in on a player signed for less than £10m could be huge – especially for a club that needs significant investment in all areas of the squad.

The Robertson saga, the Vuskovic bidding war, the Senesi deal – it’s shaping up to be one of the most consequential summers in Tottenham’s recent history.