Nottingham Post

There is not yet a vacancy to be filled in the heart of Nottingham Forest’s midfield but Lucas Bergvall is the latest candidate to emerge as a potential Elliot Anderson replacement.

With Manchester City not giving up in their pursuit of Anderson’s signature, the Reds must plan for what comes next. If, as expected, the England international leaves for the Etihad Stadium this summer he would leave a significant void at the City Ground.

Forest looked at a number of midfielders in January, trying their luck for Celtic’s Arne Engels and Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi to no avail. Both players have continued to be linked with moves Trentside but new targets have also emerged.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Bergvall is the latest name said to be on the Reds’ list. And there could be the perfect opportunity to snap him up…

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Bergvall’s stance

The 20-year-old is currently on duty with Sweden at the World Cup but has reportedly told Spurs of his wish to leave this summer. Having played a total of just 112 minutes since Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival as manager, he is said to have concerns over how much game time he is likely to get next season.

Tottenham are looking to strengthen in midfield amid suggestions De Zerbi wants more experience in there. It has led to reports Bergvall, who is under contract until 2031, is keen for a fresh start.

Bergvall joined Spurs from Swedish side Djurgarden in 2024 and has made 78 appearances since then. He was crowned the club’s player of the year after his first season, when he played a key role under then manager Ange Postecoglou.

Forest’s interest

Bergvall’s camp are said to have held talks with the Reds, although discussions are said to be at an early stage. TEAMtalk suggest Forest view the youngster as an “excellent option” for the here and now, as well as a player for the future.

They are not the only ones keeping tabs on the Swede, however. Aston Villa and Chelsea had their eye on him in January but Tottenham were not willing to consider a sale at that time.

Villa reportedly remain admirers although would need to sell one of their midfielders before considering strengthening in that department. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli have also been linked with Bergvall amid talk of a price tag in the region of £45-50 million being placed on his head.

If Forest’s interest progresses, it will be interesting to see how negotiations with Spurs go after last summer’s Morgan Gibbs-White transfer saga. Twelve months ago it looked as though the Reds playmaker was heading south only for him to end up signing a new deal Trentside.

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Anderson comparison

Finding someone capable of filling the boots of Anderson is a daunting prospect. The 23-year-old won the most duels (297), won possession the most times overall (306) and had the most touches of the ball (3,300) throughout the Premier League in 2025/26.

Last term, Anderson notched four goals and four assists in the 3,334 minutes he played in the league. Bergvall scored once and registered three assists from 966 minutes played.

Going forward, Anderson had eight goal involvements to Bergvall’s four and put in 74 crosses to the Spurs man’s 20. The Reds ace had twice as many touches in the opposition box (62) as his younger counterpart (30).

Anderson registered nine shots from inside the box to Bergvall’s four and 15 efforts from outside the box to the Swede’s one. The Forest midfielder played more minutes, of course, and the numbers illustrate just how difficult he is to replace.

Anderson made 2,383 passes and played nine through-balls to Bergvall’s 305 and three. In terms of duels won, the Reds ace came out on top by 297 to 49 while he also made more tackles (104 to 22), more interceptions (41 to two) and more blocks (16 to two).

Even if he didn’t play as much as he might have liked last season, Bergvall nevertheless has a degree of Premier League experience under his belt. He wouldn’t require a significant adjustment period in that sense.

Fitting in at Forest

Naturally, running the stats doesn’t tell the whole story. Anderson played more minutes than Bergvall last season and is three years older than the Spurs youngster.

Few midfielders will be able to top the England star’s numbers from last term because he was that good. But it should be noted how he has benefitted from the regular football on offer Trentside; Forest have played a key role in his development - something to bear in mind when considering Bergvall.

The Tottenham man still has plenty of room to grow. He is not the finished article but he is considered a bright prospect.

Much like a number of the Reds’ younger players, Bergvall had to contend with a merry-go-round of managers last term. FootballLondon’s Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold describes him as someone “still so young and precocious” and “someone who needs to feel loved”.

Forest head coach Vitor Pereira’s man-management skills could come into play there. He was able to put an arm around the likes of Dilane Bakwa, whose confidence had looked shot before the Portuguese’s arrival in February.

TEAMtalk have reported De Zerbi has “concerns” over Bergvall’s “defensive positioning and physicality” so there are areas for the youngster to work on. The Reds would know that, though.

Gold says Bergvall’s best position is “clearly a number eight”. At Forest, he would have the experience of Ibrahim Sangare alongside him in midfield - with the Ivory Coast international able to do plenty of the defensive work.

If the Reds could get the youngster at a decent price, he could be a player with the potential to increase in value. Anderson is the perfect template for what can be achieved Trentside - a player signed for £35 million and now worth more than £120m.

Nottingham Forest are said to be eyeing up Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall as they plan for the likely departure of Elliot Anderson this summer.

Manchester City are expected to try again for Anderson after failing with their first two bids for the England star. Although the FA Cup winners haven’t been able to prise him away from the City Ground yet, the signs point to the 23-year-old heading to the Etihad Stadium at some point before the transfer window closes.

With that in mind, Bergvall has emerged as a potential target for the Reds after reportedly informing Spurs of his desire to move on. The Nottingham Post gets the lowdown from FootballLondon’s Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold on the 20-year-old Sweden international…

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Why has Bergvall been overlooked/not given the minutes he wants?

He wasn't overlooked in his first season. Ange Postecoglou played him a lot, even if that was originally due to the injury crisis, but he kept his place after that and was voted player of the season by the fans.

He just didn't click with Thomas Frank, was in and out of the team and the Dane never really seemed to know where to play him - sticking him out wide or as a number 10 when he's clearly a number eight. He was injured through all but 45 minutes of Igor Tudor's brief stint and then Roberto De Zerbi went with experience to ensure Spurs stayed up.

Ultimately Bergvall has played 78 times for Tottenham across two seasons, which is great for someone who only turned 20 just a few months ago. But he knows with the new arrivals being sought he's going to struggle for game time next season without European football on the menu.

How far can he go? What is his potential and has it been impacted by a lack of minutes at Spurs?

He can be a superstar if he keeps developing. He's got a terrific all round game, a great engine and physically he's strong enough for the Premier League.

At his age, he's of course a work in progress and he needs the chance to play somewhere week in, week out as a number eight. Sweden aren't starting him yet at the World Cup but he might now after the mess against the Netherlands. He won't have been impacted by last season because he still played a decent amount of football, just not what he wanted.

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Could Spurs live to regret the decision to facilitate his transfer, if he leaves?

Absolutely. They're in a similar situation with Luka Vuskovic and there will be a lot of big clubs delighted that another one of Europe's top young talents could fall into their lap.

Bergvall has got five years left on the new contract he signed just over 12 months ago so Spurs can set a hefty price tag and insist on a sell-on clause because the alternative is keeping the young Swede, which is a great option as well.

What are his strengths and weaknesses?

Bergvall's strengths are his touch, technique and his engine, as well as his physique for a young player. His weaknesses are that his age shows sometimes in his passing and his decision-making. He will get caught on the ball occasionally in a high tempo game and this current situation has shown that he, or those around him, maybe don't have the patience required so early in his career.

Nottingham Forest are scrapping with West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur as they bid to retain their Premier League status

Harry Redknapp would rather Nottingham Forest were relegated from the Premier League than either of his former clubs Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United.

The Reds, who suffered an agonising 1-0 loss at home to Liverpool on Sunday, are just two points ahead of the Hammers and the final relegation spot, and two behind Spurs.

Tottenham were battered 4-1 by Arsenal in Igor Tudor’s first match in charge and there is a further two point gap to 15th placed Leeds United who keep picking up results.

That leaves the 78-year-old fearing the worst for one of his ex-employers and regretting that Forest could lose their top flight status.

Speaking to Sky Sports News he was asked about Tudor’s appointment and the situation at the bottom of the table.

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“They made a bold move but what can he do? The team at the moment, he's only there at the end of the season. He's only holding the fort until they go and get somebody else in full-time.

“But it's a great job for somebody for next year, if they go down they’ll come back up next year, but I don't see [it]. I think they'll be alright.

“But then I've got a foot in both camps, West Ham, I want them to stay up as well, so I'm hoping that both teams stay up, then that leaves Notts [Nottingham] Forest, who are a great club.

“One of the three of them are going to go, I can't see anybody else. Probably Burnley will go they're trying but I think they're going to go with Wolves. Wolves have gone for sure.

“Then it's a toss-up between Forest, West Ham and Spurs, and Spurs are as much in it as the other two. It's going to be tight.”

Redknapp admits he would have liked to have stepped in after Thomas Frank’s departure.

“For sure I would have done, I would definitely have had a go. I would have loved it.

“A lot of the ex-players were coming out saying they should have got me back in, I would have loved it.

“They've brought somebody in but nobody knew him. I mean he's had lots of jobs and sort of been around the block a bit but never managed in England, the guy Tudor.

“So it's a, it's a big gamble, but listen, you can't blame him for yesterday, that's been how the results have been for months, haven't they? It's shocking really.”

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Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is the driving force behind the team, Morgan Gibbs-White said after signing his new contract with the club.

In a bombshell announcement on Saturday evening, Gibbs-White committed his future to the City Ground with a new three-year deal.

It ends the saga around the attacking midfielder who had been the subject of interest from Tottenham, Thomas Frank’s side meeting the £60m release clause in Gibbs-White’s previous deal in what Forest felt was an illegal approach.

The 25-year-old will now lead the club into their first European campaign in 30 years. It’s been a sharp rise for the Reds over the past few years, and Gibbs-White credited Marinakis for the drive he inspired within the squad.

“I’m delighted,” Gibbs-White told the club. “So thank you to Mr Marinakis for believing in me.

“I feel like we’ve been on a rollercoaster of a journey, but I felt the love instantly from the very first moment I stepped through the doors.

“We’ve had difficult times but we’ve had a lot of highs. Last year was really exciting. We got to showcase what we’re about and what we’re trying to build as a team. Mr Marinakis is the base of that.

“Mr Marinakis is the main reason for that (ambition). We’ve built that culture inside the dressing room. I feel like that’s driven us all the way through.

“The manager’s been incredible since he’s come in. The fans have been amazing from the very first moment I joined.

“To give them back European football, it’s something as a dressing room, as a team, as a club, we’re all really proud about.

“They’re the ones who deserve it the most because they’re the ones who pay their hard-earned money to show up at the weekends, come and watch us play, support us and cheer us.

“They’re the ones who deserve it the most and we’re happy we’re able to give back to them.”

There’s now just over a month until Forest discover the eight clubs they will be facing in Europe. The draw for the Europa League group phase takes place on Friday, August 29.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis appeared to fire back at Tottenham Hotspur over "appropriate actions” after Morgan Gibbs-White signed a new three-deal with the club.

Spurs met the £60m release clause in Gibbs-White’s previous contract earlier this month in what Forest felt was an illegal approach.

After Gibbs-White committed to the City Ground with a new deal on Saturday evening, Marinakis had some choice words, seemingly directed at Tottenham.

He told the club: “We’re very happy about it (Gibbs-White’s deal). We share the same dreams and ambitions.

“He’s a talented player who loves Nottingham Forest. He became a legend already.

“We needed to give a message to our supporters and of course to supporters of all the other teams in England, in Europe, that with legends, you need to treat them in an appropriate manner.

“As long as I’m in charge of Nottingham Forest, these actions, approaches, should take place in an appropriate manner.

“I would never let anybody from any other team try to get a player from us or make something that we don’t agree with. Especially with some guys that belong to our family.

“Therefore, with Morgan, it didn’t take long to come to an agreement. It was a very short conversation, full of passion and love for the club.

“When you have passion and love for something, it’s a matter of a few seconds to agree. All our supporters should know that this guy loves the club.”

Forest had already lost one of their star attackers in Anthony Elanga and faced losing another when Spurs, under new manager Thomas Frank, moved for Gibbs-White.

But the saga, during which Forest considered legal action against Spurs, now looks to be over, with Gibbs-White to lead the club into the new season and into their European campaign.