Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to facilitate further player sales to finance a major squad overhaul under manager Roberto De Zerbi, with talks ongoing over the future of midfielder Lucas Bergvall.
Following the £50million departure of defender Luka Vuskovic to Brighton earlier this week, club sources told Standard Sport that Spurs are actively looking to become more efficient at selling players. Historically, Tottenham have struggled to maximise value from player sales, but with De Zerbi spearheading a rebuild this summer, the club view this transfer window as an opportunity to turn a profit on players whose minutes might be limited by aggressive spending.
Aggressive Spending and Squad Overhaul
Spurs' summer outlay has already exceeded £200m, with six new players arriving before pre-season started last week. Among them are midfielders Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, who cost a combined £185m, pushing Bergvall further down the pecking order.
Bergvall, 20, saw his minutes restricted under De Zerbi as Spurs fought to stay in the Premier League last season. He has informed the club of his desire to leave in search of more regular first-team starts and is reportedly attracting interest from Nottingham Forest. While Spurs are keen to keep him, Bergvall is assessing his options.
Djed Spence Also Available
Djed Spence, who had an impressive World Cup with England, is in a similar position. Tottenham would ideally want to keep the versatile full-back, but with minutes limited and interest building, he could be available for the right price.
Spurs have been aggressive with their spending as they look to overhaul their previously conservative transfer strategy. But their change in approach also applies to player sales. With so many new arrivals, departures are inevitable. Tottenham are in no rush to sell and will continue to demand fair market value, but they are open to letting players move on for the right price.
New Era Requires Smart Selling
If Spurs are determined to embark upon a new era, it is not just how they spend their money but also how much they bring in that will dictate their success. Looking at the most successful English clubs in the last decade, it quickly becomes clear that they are not only aggressive spenders but also smart sellers. Spurs have not been that club, in either metric, for quite some time. They are adamant that this summer marks a change both for incomings and outgoings.
