Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has thrown the door wide open for Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Lucas Bergvall, delivering a blunt warning about player commitment as the Reds prepare to test Spurs’ resolve with an improved £45 million bid.
Forest have made the 20-year-old Swedish international a top priority this summer as new head coach Oliver Glasner looks to completely overhaul and strengthen his squad. The City Ground outfit previously saw an opening bid worth £38 million knocked back by their Premier League rivals, but with Elliot Anderson completing a massive £116 million blockbuster move to Manchester City, Forest are armed with the funds necessary to secure their primary midfield target.
De Zerbi: “Who Is Not Happy Has to Leave”
Bergvall, who recently represented Sweden on the global stage at the World Cup, is understood to have communicated his desire to move on this summer. Frustrated by a stark lack of regular first-team opportunities—having managed just a single start and a meager 112 minutes of action since De Zerbi took the managerial reins in March—the youngster is actively seeking a fresh start.
While Bergvall is currently part of Tottenham’s 35-man squad touring New Zealand and Australia, his absence from the pitch during their 20 victory over Auckland FC has only fueled intense transfer speculation.
Addressing the media prior to the fixture, De Zerbi made it abundantly clear that he will not stand in the way of any player who lacks total motivation to wear the Lilywhites shirt.
”Listen, I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham,” De Zerbi stated. “I said, ‘Who doesn’t want to stay in Tottenham, who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave.’ I want proud players who are happy to stay here and to go on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium with a big motivation.”
The Italian boss confirmed that he intends to sit down for direct talks with Bergvall in the coming days to map out the best path forward for all parties involved.
”I have not spoken with Lucas yet, I will in the next days. And we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us. Without problems, Lucas is a big, big talent. There will be a big competition to play because at the end I think we will be two players for each position. If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution with [sporting director] Johan Lange, with Vinai [Venkatesham].”
Forest’s Midfield Overhaul Gathers Pace
For Nottingham Forest, landing Bergvall would represent another massive coup in a busy summer transfer window. The Reds have already bolstered the heart of their midfield with the shrewd acquisition of experienced free agent Xaver Schlager, but filling the gaping creative void left by Anderson’s departure remains paramount.
With Forest expected to return to the negotiating table with an enhanced package in the region of £45 million, talks are anticipated to accelerate rapidly once Tottenham return from their pre-season tour.
As Oliver Glasner looks to put his stamp on the squad and build a team capable of pushing higher up the Premier League table, securing one of Europe’s most coveted young talents would send an emphatic statement of intent to the rest of the league.
