Ivan Perisic could complete an emotional return to Hajduk Split as a result of Tottenham Hotspur agreeing to sign Luka Vuskovic from the Croatian side, reports have claimed.
Tottenham have lined up the signing of Vuskovic for when the defender turns 18 years old. The move will earn Hajduk a windfall of around £12m, but it has now emerged that another benefit could be for them to sign Perisic, even though the two players operate in completely different roles.
According to the Evening Standard, the runners up from last season’s Croatian First League now ‘believe they are at the front of the queue’ to offer Perisic his next step after his spell with Spurs. Although Tottenham are having to wait until 2025 to take Vuskovic, Perisic could head in the opposite direction much sooner. Per the report, there is even a chance Hajduk will make a move for him in January.
Perisic is already into the final year of his contract with Tottenham. He arrived at the club in 2022 to reunite with Antonio Conte, but current head coach Ange Postecoglou doesn’t seem to be as keen on him.
This season, the 34-year-old has played in every match for Tottenham, but in only one of those five appearances has he started – and that was in the Carabao Cup, not the Premier League.
Since Spurs are now out of the Carabao Cup and have no European football on offer this season, it may be a while before Perisic plays as a starter again.
Homecoming on the cards for Perisic
Should he sign for Hajduk, it will be an emotional next step for Perisic. He previously developed in their academy between 2000 and 2006 before leaving for Sochaux.
He never got the chance to play at senior level for his hometown team, but he could lend them a hand with the vast experience he has built up since throughout his career if he was to return.
Perisic endured a long spell with Inter Milan and has also spent time with clubs like Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich. Furthermore, he is the third most-capped Croatia international of all time
