The 20-year-old had become a peripheral figure under Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham this past season.
In the ever-evolving world of football, careers can take unexpected turns. Lucas Bergvall, who had a strong debut season with Tottenham Hotspur last term, struggled to have a similar impact this time around.
The central midfielder’s first season at Spurs saw him occupy a key role under then-boss Ange Postecoglou and be named the club’s player of the year after helping them win the Europa League. Postecoglou’s replacement as head coach, Thomas Frank, used the Sweden international less frequently and often on the flanks, rather than the central midfield position he favours.
The €40m Lucas Bergvall was in and out of the team before he suffered an ankle injury in a Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund in January. The youngster underwent surgery, which ruled him out until mid-April. By the time he returned to action, Frank was gone and replaced by interim boss Igor Tudor. After a humiliating 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest, Tudor was sacked as well and replaced by head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
John Wenham thinks Lucas Bergvall could benefit from a Premier League loan
In De Zerbi’s first game in charge of Spurs against Sunderland, Bergvall started and played 62 minutes in the 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light. After that, the 20-year-old only managed minutes off the bench, as De Zerbi preferred the experienced midfield trio of Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher. In fact, he was an unused substitute in Tottenham’s final two games of the campaign.
From being wanted by clubs like Aston Villa and Chelsea in January to not managing to get into De Zerbi’s XI, Bergvall had a rough end to the campaign. Keeping that in mind, reputable Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham feels there is a chance that the young central midfielder will leave on loan ahead of the 2026/27 season.
“I just wonder if Bergvall is one we look to loan next season, if there was a Premier League side that would take him on loan, I think that would be really beneficial,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.
“If he went and played 38 games for Bournemouth, or Brighton, or Brentford, or a team like that, it would just be fantastic for Tottenham, and for the players’ development as well, because we’re not going to have that European football, we’re just not going to have that much game time.
“I think the manager has made it clear already that Palhinha, Bentancur and Gallagher will all be staying at the club, so we need to make sure he is getting enough game time.”
Lucas Bergvall’s plans not to leave Tottenham could change
In April, Football Insider’s transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that Bergvall has no intentions to leave Spurs if they stay in the top flight. Tottenham will continue playing in the Premier League, but as the Swedish prodigy got very few opportunities to play at the back end of the recently concluded campaign, a change in his decision would not surprise the fans.
De Zerbi has made it clear he wants Joao Palhinha to stay at the club. Palhinha formed a strong midfield unit with Bentancur and Gallagher, and a potential trio in the centre of the park in the first game of next season cannot be ruled out. After excelling as a regular starter in his maiden season in N17, it’d be tough for Bergvall to become a squad player.
He has a contract until 2031, so the midfielder’s long-term future is certainly at White Hart Lane. However, if Bergvall senses chances of featuring regularly are in jeopardy, a season-long loan in the Premier League or any top European league would suffice.