Soccer
De Zerbi wants in-demand Spurs midfielder to stay but cannot make guarantees
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Roberto De Zerbi wants Lucas Bergvall to stay at Tottenham — but cannot guarantee him a starting place.
A host of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Brighton, are said to be interested in the Swedish midfielder.
De Zerbi is keen to keep Bergvall in North London, as he highlighted by naming him in his XI for today’s pre-season friendly with Sydney FC.
Spurs won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Stadium, with the 20-year-old ace replaced at half-time by new signing Sandro Tonali.
And De Zerbi faced a host of questions about Bergavall’s future during the post-match press conference.
The Italian, 47, said: “I would like that he stays with us. I think he’s potentially a top, top, top player. But then I don’t want to convince anyone to stay.
“Tottenham is already, without me, a top club and we are not to convince anyone to stay. He can find the space if he stays with us.
“The competition will be very strong because we are Tottenham and we have to build a strong squad. Not just 11 players.
“Football is going in a clear direction. To compete for the highest places in the table, you have to manage 22, 23, 24 players. I don’t want 24, but 21, 22, of a high level, for sure.”
No transfer request
Despite rumours to the contrary, De Zerbi played talk down of Bergvall asking to leave.
He added: “No, never [has he asked]. I am speaking with him before the end of the last season. During the World Cup two times.
“But now we are speaking better, face to face, without a competition in this moment.
"He wants space. He wants to play as a double pivot as a position. I can't give, for any player in the world, the place in the first XI guaranteed.
“He’s very young, a very good player, a good guy. It’s not so easy so fast to find a young player of that level."
Will he stay or will he go?
Bergvall chipped in with one assist as Sweden reached the last 32 of the World Cup in North America.
His appearances for Graham Potter’s side came on the back of a frustrating 2025-26 campaign with Spurs, which saw him notch one goal and five assists in 33 appearances in all competitions.
Despite struggling for game time last season, the central midfielder is seen by numerous clubs as someone who is ready-made for regular football.
That makes him hot property but it would appear De Zerbi will not let Bergvall go unless the player forces his hand.
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