Newcastle United are among several clubs monitoring Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall as the 20-year-old pushes for a move away from North London. Dissatisfied with limited playing time under manager Roberto De Zerbi, and following the arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes this summer, Bergvall is seeking a fresh challenge. Premier League sides Newcastle and Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested.
Bergvall's Rapid Rise and Fall at Spurs
Bergvall joined Tottenham from Djurgarden two years ago and has since made 78 appearances. After an impressive debut season, he was rewarded with a lucrative new contract last summer. Former manager Ange Postecoglou was immediately taken by Bergvall, instructing his coaching staff to work closely with the then-teenage midfielder. As injuries mounted, Bergvall rose to prominence, impressing in the Europa League and becoming a key player in the Premier League. By season's end, an ankle injury ruled him out of Tottenham's Europa League final win over Manchester United, but he was named Tottenham Supporters' Player of the Season.
Postecoglou, when asked if Spurs should build around Bergvall, replied: "Yeah hugely so and I'm delighted for Lucas. It's reward for his development this year, his performances and how well he has adapted. He has come straight from the Swedish league, a year of senior football and it's a credit to him. He's worked really hard at his game. At the beginning he was struggling to cope with the intensity and tempo, as you'd expect. He had an opportunity because of the situation we were in and he grabbed it with both hands. I think there is a core group of young players here that hopefully we can build something from."
Change in Management and Diminishing Role
When Postecoglou left and was replaced by Thomas Frank, Bergvall's influence waned. He became in and out of the team and was often deployed out of his preferred number eight position. Externally, questions arose about his best position. Internally, frustration grew when Spurs signed Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid. An ankle injury coincided with Frank's departure and Igor Tudor's ill-fated spell. Although Bergvall returned under De Zerbi, the Italian preferred experienced midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, and even Yves Bissouma. Bergvall played just 51 minutes across the final six matches of the season, deepening his exasperation.
Transfer Interest and Valuation
Following the signings of Tonali and Fernandes, Bergvall has decided to continue his career elsewhere. Spurs consider him integral to their future, but Bergvall feels promises made when he signed his new deal have not been kept. Chronicle Live understands Bergvall was offered to Newcastle, who are in the market for a midfielder. The Magpies inquired about a price tag, with some numbers suggested, but no official bid has been made despite talk of a £46 million offer being rejected elsewhere. Conversations between the two boards have taken place, but no deal has been agreed. Spurs are reportedly happy for interest in Bergvall to be known.
Nottingham Forest had a £38 million bid turned down, with Spurs holding out for £50 million. A bidding war is attractive to Spurs, especially after Bergvall's positive World Cup showing, where he registered an assist in Sweden's 5-1 win over Tunisia. Whether Newcastle make a move remains to be seen, as they are exploring other midfield options, including Brazilian international Danilo of Botafogo. Bergvall's first-season form and potential make him an attractive target for Premier League sides, and the saga is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
