Lucas Bergvall's future at Tottenham is still not settled, but Roberto De Zerbi made his position clear during the club's pre-season tour in Sydney, Australia: he wants the 20-year-old to stay.
That is a notable update in a summer that has already brought plenty of movement around the midfielder. Bergvall signed a new six-year contract with Tottenham last year, but earlier this summer his camp informed Spurs that he wanted to move on to a fresh challenge. Tottenham have since rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, while Barcelona interest has been dismissed by those around Bergvall after a claim from Spain.
The situation remains open because Spurs still have three weeks left in the transfer window, and Bergvall's concerns are tied to the expected competition for midfield places. He wants regular minutes to keep developing, which is understandable for a player still trying to establish himself at the top level.
De Zerbi's message on Bergvall
Speaking in Sydney, De Zerbi said he had been very clear with Bergvall about his view of the situation. He said he would like the midfielder to stay and described him as having the potential to become a top-level player, but also stressed that he did not want to force anyone to remain at the club.
He also made the broader point that Tottenham are already a major club, even without his own involvement, underlining why Bergvall remains such an important part of the summer discussion. Spurs have already shown they are not prepared to let him go cheaply, with reports suggesting they could seek a fee upwards of £60million.
For Tottenham, the key issue is balancing immediate squad competition with long-term value. Bergvall travelled with the team to New Zealand and Australia during the pre-season tour, then started most of the pre-season games after returning to action. That suggests Tottenham still see him as part of the group, even as interest continues behind the scenes.
For Bergvall, the next step is clearer playing time. For Tottenham, the next three weeks will determine whether they can convince one of their most highly rated young midfielders that his future is still in north London.
