Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has stated clearly that he wants Lucas Bergvall to stay at the club, but admitted he cannot offer the Swedish midfielder a guaranteed starting spot. The 20-year-old has received bids from Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, while sources indicate that Bergvall has told Spurs he wishes to move on.
Amid the ongoing speculation, Bergvall started Tottenham’s pre-season friendly against Sydney FC, which finished 1-1 before Spurs won 4-2 on penalties at Allianz Stadium.
Lucas Bergvall’s transfer situation and De Zerbi’s approach
De Zerbi noted that he has always been straightforward with Bergvall and wants him to remain, as he sees the midfielder developing into a high-level player. However, the Italian stressed that he will not pressure anyone to stay at Tottenham if they are unhappy.
The Spurs boss pointed out that competition for places will be fierce because the squad needs depth after dealing with many injuries over the last two or three campaigns. He emphasized that successful sides rely on more than just a strong starting eleven, and every player must fight for their role.
De Zerbi added that if Bergvall decides to leave, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange would need to work out a deal that benefits the club.
Midfield competition and Lucas Bergvall’s position
According to De Zerbi, Bergvall wants consistent playing time in a deeper midfield role as part of a double pivot. However, the coach insisted that no player can be assured a spot in the first team.
He acknowledged that central midfielders must handle various tasks depending on the game, such as attacking, shielding the defense, and distributing the ball quickly. While respecting Bergvall’s preferred role, De Zerbi believes the midfielder still has aspects of his game to refine.
The arrival of Matheus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali has increased competition, leaving Bergvall’s future even more uncertain.
Tottenham beat Sydney FC in pre-season clash
Bergvall played as Tottenham won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Mathys Tel opened the scoring with a long-range free kick, and a mistake by Kota Takai allowed Takahiro Sekine to equalize in the second half.
During the shootout, Sydney’s Joe Lacey hit the post, and Martin Dubravka saved Alex Popovic’s effort, while Tonali, Andy Robertson, and Dane Scarlett all scored their penalties to secure the win.
The match featured ten academy players, while James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Kevin Danso, Dominic Solanke, Matheus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Micky van de Ven were absent.
Roberto De Zerbi outlines Tottenham’s fitness schedule
De Zerbi explained that players are at varying levels of pre-season readiness, with some able to play 70 or 80 minutes while others are still building up their condition.
He listed Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Sandro Tonali, Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel, Manor Solomon, and Richarlison among those making physical progress. The Tottenham manager noted that clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool, whose squads also include players returning from the World Cup, face the same challenge of getting everyone fit for the upcoming season.