Tottenham Reject Chelsea's January Transfer Approach for Lucas Bergvall
Tottenham Hotspur have firmly rejected an approach from Chelsea to sign midfielder Lucas Bergvall during the January transfer window, according to reports from The Athletic. The 20-year-old Swedish international, who is currently recovering from ankle surgery, has been deemed untouchable by the North London club despite interest from their Premier League rivals.
Bergvall's Rise and Current Situation
Lucas Bergvall joined Tottenham in 2024 from Swedish side Djurgarden in a deal worth £8.5 million. Now in his second season with Spurs, the young midfielder made an immediate impact, being named Tottenham's Player of the Season last term as he helped the club win the Europa League under manager Ange Postecoglou.
However, Bergvall is currently sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery last month, which has not deterred interest from other clubs. According to reports, both Chelsea and Aston Villa made formal approaches to Tottenham regarding a potential transfer for the midfielder during the January window.
Tottenham's Firm Stance and Alternative Moves
Tottenham have made it clear that Bergvall is not for sale at any price, shutting down any possibility of a transfer. This firm stance comes despite Postecoglou's recent criticism of the club's transfer strategy, where he expressed frustration about not signing more experienced Premier League players after his first season in charge.
Instead of pursuing established stars, Tottenham opted to sign Dominic Solanke alongside three teenagers: Bergvall, Archie Gray, and Wilson Odobert. Postecoglou had reportedly been keen on players like Pedro Neto, Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo, and Marc Guehi to help bridge the gap from fifth place to Champions League contention.
Following their failed approach for Bergvall, Aston Villa moved on to secure Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus for a second time, with an option to make the deal permanent for €25 million (£23.4 million) this summer. Interestingly, Chelsea had also made an approach for Luiz before he returned to Villa Park.
Postecoglou's Transfer Strategy Concerns
In a recent interview on The Overlap, Postecoglou openly discussed his concerns about Tottenham's recruitment strategy. 'At the end of my first year, when we finished fifth, for me, OK, how do you go from fifth to really challenging? Well, we had to sign Premier League-leading players,' Postecoglou explained.
'But finishing fifth that year didn't get us Champions League, we didn't have the money. So we ended up signing Dom Solanke... I was really keen on him, I really liked him, then three teenagers.'
The Tottenham manager acknowledged the potential of Bergvall, Gray, and Odobert, stating: 'Those three teenagers are outstanding young players, brilliant young players. I think they'll be great players for Tottenham but they're not going to get you from fifth to fourth.'
This tension between immediate success and long-term development appears to be at the heart of Tottenham's current transfer philosophy, with Bergvall representing a key part of their future plans despite external interest.
