You probably think Tottenham's transfer window couldn't have gone any worse, right? Well, it would appear that our Premier League rivals really tried to stick the boot in.
This was a winter where major reinforcements were needed. Admittedly, Thomas Frank's precarious position at the helm rendered things difficult in terms of squad planning, but this was a window where Tottenham, no matter who was in charge, needed to fill holes due to player sales, injuries and underperformance.
But, as we know, it was Conor Gallagher and João Souza. That was it. Damningly, we ended the month weaker than how we started it.
Among those currently sidelined and unable to contribute to what was a helpless cause under Frank is Lucas Bergvall. The Swede enjoyed a breakout debut season but struggled to impress with the Dane in charge, largely due to little fault of his own. Frustratingly, Bergvall suffered a serious ankle injury last month that required surgery, and recent reports suggest it'll be another six weeks until he's back in action.
But hey, it could've been worse. You know, we could've decided to sell him to one of our fiercest rivals...
Spurs rejected advances for Bergvall in January transfer window
David Ornstein reported earlier this week that Chelsea and Aston Villa were among those to have Bergvall enquiries rebuffed in the winter, with Tottenham affirming that the bright young midfielder is not for sale.
However, with our position desperate, such snooping doesn't bode well for the summer. Even if we avoid the drop, which we still have to regard as likely, clubs may well turn to disgruntled Lilywhite stars. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have already been linked with departures, and Ornstein seemed to suggest that Bergvall will receive plenty of interest.
That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, given that Spurs fought off Barcelona to secure his services two years ago. The midfielder then quickly came of age during the second half of 2024/25, supplying a semblance of hope during troubled times under Ange Postecoglou.
This Tottenham team undoubtedly could've done with Frank profiling him correctly, and we can only hope that Igor Tudor nurtures him well once he's ready for action again. If the latest reports are accurate, the midfielder should be back at the start of April, meaning he'll miss the World Cup play-offs in March.