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Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi says he has told midfielder Lucas Bergvall to stay but cannot promise him a starting role.

The Sweden international, 20, has received multiple offers from Premier League rivals Newcastle and Nottingham Forest but surprisingly started Spurs' 4-2 penalty shootout win over Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday.

De Zerbi admitted he made mistakes in his handling of Bergvall during a chaotic end to the season following his appointment in March, when he narrowly guided Spurs to Premier League safety with a final-day victory over Everton.

BBC Sport understands Bergvall has told Tottenham he wants to leave.

"I'm always being very clear with him and with you. I would like that he stays with us," said De Zerbi.

"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 within the players will be very strong because we are Tottenham and we have to build a strong squad - not just 11 players - especially considering a lot of injuries we suffered in the last two, three seasons."

It is also understood Bergvall wants to play in a deeper midfield role, a position he occupied in the 1-1 draw with Sydney FC alongside Archie Gray, but the arrivals of club-record signings Matheus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham and Sandro Tonali for £100m from Newcastle have cast further doubt over his future.

De Zerbi continued: "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.

"I want to be honest with the players. I want to be clear. I don't want to make the first mistake. In terms of position, I can't give guarantee. It's right when he wants to play as a central midfielder.

"But to play as a central midfielder, sometimes it is to attack, sometimes to keep the holder, to move the ball faster. He has to improve."

However, the Italian also admits that "to stay with us, we have to have the right spirit, but if he doesn't want, then what can I do? Nothing."

Tottenham continued their pre-season campaign with a penalty shoot-out win over Sydney FC on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Mathys Tel's stunning free-kick opened the scoring in the first half at the Allianz Stadium but Roberto de Zerbi's side were pegged back by a Takahiro Sekine effort after the break.

On his fine strike and the game as a whole, Tel said: "It was a good goal. I also want to congratulate the team because we worked and we fought to the end, even in a friendly game. We just keep going all the time.

"Sydney played very well on the ball, they played also very well off the ball and it wasn't that easy against them."

De Zerbi utilised several youngsters after a long trip from New Zealand after their 2-0 win over Auckland FC on Sunday.

However, first-team players Archie Gray, Richarlison, Tel, Conor Gallagher, Ben Davies, Manor Solomon and Martin Dubravka all started, alongside Lucas Bergvall, who has been heavily linked with a move away with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest reportedly interested.

Among those getting a second-half run out was record signing Sandro Tonali and fellow new recruit Andy Robertson.

Manchester City winger Savinho is open to leaving the club with a view to exploring a move to Tottenham.

The Brazil international is a key target for Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi and City are aware of the interest in the 22-year-old.

It is understood Savinho is keen to leave during this transfer window, with the machinations towards his potential move to London now under way.

The attacker joined City from sister club Troyes for £30.8m in July 2024, having spent the previous season on loan at Spanish side Girona.

Tottenham held talks to sign Savinho last summer, but the Etihad club were not looking to sell at that stage.

He subsequently signed a two-year contract extension last October, keeping him at City until 2031.

Manchester City winger Savinho is open to leaving the club with a view to exploring a move to Tottenham.

The Brazil international is a key target for Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi and City are aware of the interest in the 22-year-old.

It is understood Savinho is keen to leave during this transfer window, with the machinations towards his potential move to London now under way.

The attacker joined City from sister club Troyes for £30.8m in July 2024, having spent the previous season on loan at Spanish side Girona.

Tottenham held talks to sign Savinho last summer, but the Etihad club were not looking to sell at that stage.

He subsequently signed a two-year contract extension last October, keeping him at City until 2031.

Savinho was a regular under Pep Guardiola in his first season, scoring three times in 48 appearances all competitions.

However, his game time was more limited last term, appearing in 36 matches across all competitions in Guardiola's final campaign as boss.

Tottenham continue their pre-season preparations in Australia after arriving from New Zealand on Sunday, with matches against Sydney FC and Chelsea to come this week.

New signings Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and, more recently, Jan Paul van Hecke, who had been away with the Netherlands at the World Cup, are with the squad.

However, there is also a significant youth presence - and excitement around 17-year-old forward Luca Williams-Barnett.

"He's a talent," said Spurs legend Ledley King. "There's a lot of hard work ahead of him, but there's no doubt that he's someone with great ability.

"He's seen players like Harry Kane come through the academy and, through sheer hard work and determination, put themselves in a position to kick on. He couldn't have a better role model.

"There's no doubt we're excited by his talent and the next part will be up to him."

Tottenham legend Ledley King has responded to Andy Robertson's shirt number gesture, describing it as "a really nice touch".

The summer signing wore the number 26 shirt at Liverpool, but it is unofficially retired at Spurs out of respect for King's career. As a result, the Scotland international has opted for number three, a more traditional shirt number for a left-back.

Speaking in Sydney, where Tottenham are continuing their pre-season tour, King said: "For him to decide not to wear the shirt was a testament to his character really, a great sign of respect.

"Of course, I know he's a legend at Liverpool in that same shirt. It was a really nice touch.

"We spoke at the airport before we came out and shared a few words about it. It was nice."

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Tottenham had three managers last season, with Thomas Frank lasting less than eight months before being sacked.

Frank struggled to connect with the Spurs fans and was criticised for playing with a "safety-first" approach.

Micky van de Ven believes Roberto de Zerbi will have the team playing better football, helped by the new signings and a full pre-season to drill the squad.

"It's going to be different compared to the manager we had last season," Van de Ven said.

"It's going to be more with the ball, I think, more about playing football. I think it's also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we'll be playing offensive football.

"You can see he [De Zerbi] has brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot in terms of mentality and passion on the pitch.

"It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down.

"He brings a lot of good energy and, from pre-season, we have really had the time to bring his football into the team. That's really enjoyable."