Brighton & Hove Albion defender Luka Vuskovic is on Liverpool’s transfer radar ahead of next summer following an eye-catching start to the new Premier League season.

The Croatia international joined Brighton from Tottenham Hotspur for €54 million in July, with Jan Paul van Hecke moving in the opposite direction, and he has played a pivotal role in the form of Fabian Hurzeler’s side so far this term.

Vuskovic has started all 10 of Brighton’s Premier League matches this campaign, and he is a key reason why the Seagulls are currently second in the English top flight table, just five points behind league leaders Arsenal.

The 19-year-old was linked with a host of European giants before his move to Brighton, with Barcelona among the clubs eager to finalise a deal, and he remains hot property ahead of 2027.

Vuskovic has emerged as a possible target for Chelsea in recent days, as Xabi Alonso looks to bolster his defensive options, while Sky Germany have now confirmed that he is being chased by Liverpool amid their pursuit of a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.

The Netherlands international has less than 12 months remaining on his current contract at Anfield and while he is widely expected to put pen to paper on fresh terms, the Reds hierarchy are still scouring the market for a possible successor.

The likes of Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) and Tarik Muharemovic (Leeds United) have all been tipped as potential options, while Vuskovic has now emerged as a candidate for the role following a sublime start to his career at Brighton.

It’s reported that Liverpool are regularly scouting Vuskovic as they ramp up their pursuit of his signature, although Brighton are currently set to demand a fee of €100m, which would make him the most expensive defender in football history.

In addition, Sky Germany claim that Vuskovic is “very happy” at Brighton, although his dream is to complete a move to Real Madrid in the future.

Luka Vuskovic happy at Brighton

While Vuskovic has attracted substantial transfer interest from across Europe, he has confirmed that he currently has no interest in leaving Brighton.

When asked if he felt he had a point to prove to Tottenham following their decision to sell him this summer, Vuskovic told The Argus in October: “I wouldn’t look at it like that.

“Tottenham really helped me when I was a teenager. For two years I’ve been with them and the loans and they helped me a lot. I’m really grateful to them.

“I’m in Brighton now and I feel great. It’s an unbelievable club who believe in me. In the end, I don’t know why Tottenham didn’t want me, but Brighton believed in me. Also, a few years back I knew they wanted to sign me.”