Nottingham Forest are refusing to take no for an answer in their pursuit of Lucas Bergvall, preparing a fresh £45 million offer for the Tottenham midfielder after Spurs knocked back their opening £38 million bid last week.
A Deal With Real Momentum
New Forest boss Oliver Glasner has made Bergvall his No. 1 target this summer as he looks to add a young, dynamic central midfielder to his squad. With Elliot Anderson having already departed for Manchester City in a British-record £116 million deal, Forest are prioritizing his replacement — and Bergvall has emerged as the clear top choice.
Should this improved £45 million bid succeed, Bergvall would smash Forest’s current transfer record, eclipsing the £37.5 million the club paid Ipswich Town for Omari Hutchinson last year. Tottenham’s valuation, though, is understood to sit closer to £50 million, meaning there’s still a genuine gap to bridge before any deal gets done.
Why Bergvall Wants Out
The push for an exit isn’t coming from Forest alone — Bergvall himself has reportedly told Tottenham he wants to leave this summer, despite having signed a new long-term contract with the club as recently as April. The issue comes down to game time. Since Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival in March, Bergvall has started just once and logged only 112 minutes of football, a stark drop-off for a player who established himself as a key figure under the previous regime.
His path to regular football looks even more crowded now too. Tottenham have spent close to £200 million this summer bringing in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes from Newcastle and West Ham respectively, further squeezing Bergvall’s opportunities in midfield.
De Zerbi Trying to Change His Mind
To his credit, De Zerbi has reportedly held direct conversations with Bergvall to reassure him about his long-term role at the club, but the 20-year-old remains visibly unsettled. Speaking after Sweden’s World Cup exit — a 3-0 round-of-32 defeat to France in which he made his first start of the tournament — Bergvall made clear that regular football in his position is now his priority, adding that his focus had been on the tournament and that he’d assess his future from there.
Not Forest’s Only Midfield Move
This pursuit isn’t happening in isolation either. Forest are also closing in on the free-agent signing of Austrian international Xaver Schlager as their first addition of the summer, another move designed to help offset the loss of Anderson. The club has also been linked with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, though reports suggest he isn’t currently viewed as a priority, with the midfielder said to be weighing up other options.
Unlike last summer’s sprawling 13-player, £180 million spending spree, Forest appear to be taking a more targeted approach this time around — prioritizing quality additions in key positions, including reported interest in bringing in a goalkeeper to support Matz Sels and John Victor, along with a striker to ease the burden on 34-year-old Chris Wood and Igor Jesus.
What Happens Next?
With Forest’s improved offer edging closer to Tottenham’s valuation and Bergvall reportedly determined to force the issue, this transfer saga looks like it could reach a resolution sooner rather than later. Whether Spurs ultimately cash in or hold firm may come down to just how much De Zerbi’s reassurances actually count for.
Forest fans, would landing Bergvall for a club-record fee be the statement signing your midfield needs? Let us know your thoughts below.
