Lucas Bergvall’s Shaky World Cup Complicates His Tottenham Exit

Lucas Bergvall filed a transfer request from Sweden’s World Cup camp last month, betting a deep tournament run would strengthen his case against Tottenham. It backfired. He made one World Cup start, lasted 66 minutes as France put Sweden three goals down, and gave Spurs a fresh reason to hold their price.

Nottingham Forest want him anyway, funded in part by Elliot Anderson’s looming British-record move to Manchester City. Tottenham has already turned down a £43 million bid, and both sides remain far apart on price even with his stock more uncertain than at any point since he arrived in England.

A Transfer Request Filed Mid-Tournament

Bergvall is barely 20, but the message he sent Tottenham this summer left no room for interpretation. He told the club he wanted out even while wearing Sweden’s colors at the World Cup, worried about his role under new manager Roberto De Zerbi as the Italian chased Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes for the same patch of midfield.

Tottenham’s public position has shifted by the week, and the reporting around it genuinely conflicts.

• John Percy (The Daily Telegraph) – reports Tottenham do not consider Bergvall for sale at any price this summer.
• Pete O’Rourke (transfer insider) – says Spurs will reluctantly allow the midfielder to leave if the fee is right.
• Michael Bridge (Sky Sports) – posted on X that Bergvall has been told he is not leaving Spurs this summer, with five years left on his contract.

None of the three reports agree on where Tottenham will actually land, and Bergvall still hasn’t gotten a straight answer from his own club about next season.

A Rough Night Against France Undercut His Own Case

Sweden’s group stage had gone well enough for him. Bergvall set up a goal in a 5-1 rout of Tunisia and did enough off the bench across the group games to earn a first start against France in the round of 32, arguably the strongest side left in the draw.

He barely lasted. Tottenham confirmed Bergvall played 66 minutes before being substituted with Sweden already two goals down, and France went on to win 3-0 with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Bradley Barcola adding a third. Adrien Rabiot and France’s midfield overran him for long stretches, and he finished the match without creating a single chance.

Asked directly about his Tottenham future during the tournament, Bergvall preferred to talk about Sweden.

Right now, I’m just trying to focus on the World Cup. Whatever happens after that, I’ll deal with it then.

Bergvall said, via journalist Chris Cowlin, when pressed on the transfer request at Sweden’s camp.

He was more direct with the Swedish outlet Aftonbladet once Sweden had been eliminated, saying he wants regular football in his best position next season. Sport Witness, translating the interview, quoted him wanting “continuous matches” in that role.

Bergvall’s Season by the Numbers

An Ankle Injury and a Managerial Merry-Go-Round

The frustration didn’t start at the World Cup. An ankle problem needed surgery in January, initially expected to keep him out until April, though he returned to full training two months ahead of that schedule. By the time he was fit, Thomas Frank had been sacked with Spurs only five points clear of the relegation zone, and Igor Tudor was steering the club through the run-in on a contract until June.

He started just 11 Premier League games all season and finished with 966 minutes, one goal and three assists across 23 appearances, an average match rating of 6.56. Once De Zerbi took permanent charge, Bergvall’s minutes shrank further, to just 112 across the final stretch of the relegation fight.

Bergvall Compared With Pape Sarr

Set him against Pape Sarr, the other young Tottenham midfielder chasing the same minutes, and the underlying numbers explain some of Spurs’ caution. Sarr has created two big chances to Bergvall’s zero this season, with a higher pass completion rate as well.

Bergvall signed his own extension through 2031 in April last year, a reward for a Europa League-winning debut season under Ange Postecoglou. That gives Tottenham no financial pressure to move him cheaply, whatever he wants this summer.

Why Nottingham Forest Are Circling Hardest

Forest need a new midfielder more urgently than most of Bergvall’s suitors. Elliot Anderson is closing in on a British-record move to Manchester City, leaving a gap in the middle of Forest’s team that the club is actively trying to fill before the season starts.

The City Ground has become a launching pad for emerging talent in recent years. Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo and Anderson himself all developed into first-team fixtures there before their value rose across Europe, and Forest’s transfer strategy leans on that exact model: sign talent early, play it constantly, sell high later.

Football Insider first reported Forest’s opening approach, worth £43 million, was turned down flat. Reporting since has described Forest opening direct talks over an improved package, with Tottenham privately valuing the midfielder in the region of £50 million and refusing to go lower. Forest are also said to be ready to offer Spurs a sell-on clause, guaranteeing a cut if the midfielder is resold for a profit down the line.

“I think he may be in a crowded Spurs squad now,” said Keith Wyness, a former Everton chief executive, to Football Insider on Forest’s chances.

Forest are not alone in the chase. Other clubs have registered interest at different points this summer:

• Aston Villa – enquired in January and renewed their interest once the transfer request became public.
• Chelsea – revived their pursuit after previously stepping back when Tottenham ruled out a sale.
• Napoli – monitoring the situation from Italy, though a fee above £50 million is considered a stretch for the club.

Tottenham’s £185 Million Rebuild Squeezes Its Pipeline

De Zerbi’s summer has been about buying certainty. Spurs already added Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka to rebuild the defense, then spent a combined £185 million on Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, roughly £85 million and £100 million respectively, to take control of the middle of the park.

None of it was aimed at Bergvall specifically, but all of it lands on the same patch of grass he wants to play on. As Read Tottenham put it while tracking the rebuild, “De Zerbi is not just buying players. He is repricing roles.”

Bergvall isn’t the only prospect feeling squeezed by the spending. Luka Vuskovic, a young defender who spent last season on loan at Hamburg and was named to the Bundesliga’s Team of the Season, left Tottenham for Brighton this summer rather than accept another loan once Spurs signed Jan Paul van Hecke into his position.

He signed through 2031 already, betting patience would pay off. Tottenham’s spending this summer is testing that bet in real time.

How Much Is Tottenham Asking for Lucas Bergvall?

Tottenham’s asking price has hovered in a fairly narrow band since interest turned serious this summer, generally between £40 million and £50 million, with Spurs refusing bids that fall meaningfully short of that range and Forest’s camp working to close the gap with add-ons rather than pure cash.

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio said Tottenham recently rejected €50m, likely from an English club, likely Nottingham Forest, and added that Spurs would not go lower than that threshold. Stefan Borson, a former Manchester City financial adviser, has suggested Spurs will ultimately hold out for something closer to £40 million if a deal happens at all, a mark that would still represent a heavy profit on what Tottenham paid Djurgården for him back in 2024.

Preseason offers the clearest deadline now. Tottenham face Milton Keynes Dons in a club friendly on July 22, the first match where Bergvall’s role, wanted or not, will actually show up on a team sheet instead of in another transfer report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Barcelona Try To Sign Lucas Bergvall Before Tottenham?

Yes. Tottenham beat Barcelona to his signature when they brought him in from Djurgården in 2024, and the Catalan club’s interest was part of what pushed Spurs to move quickly on the deal at the time.

Which Other Clubs Have Been Linked With Bergvall Besides Nottingham Forest?

Aston Villa and Chelsea have both made contact at different points this summer, while more speculative reports have linked Real Madrid and Newcastle. Sport Bild’s Christian Falk has specifically denied claims that Bayern Munich are monitoring the midfielder.

What Titles Has Bergvall Won Since Joining Tottenham?

Bergvall won the Europa League with Tottenham in 2024-25 and also picked up the J.League World Challenge in 2024, adding to a Superettan title he won earlier with Brommapojkarna in Sweden.

What Swedish Generation of Talent Does Bergvall Belong To?

He has been described as one of the most talented graduates of a Swedish generation that also produced Dejan Kulusevski and Viktor Gyokeres, both of whom went on to become established names in Europe’s top leagues.