Is Tottenham transfer target Steven Bergwijn worth £30 million
By Gary Pearson
Appearing almost out of the blue, the prospective deal between Tottenham and PSV looks to be near completion, so is Steven Bergwijn worth the £30 million Daniel Levy is about to splash out?
The adaptable left winger, who is also comfortable in a central role, has obviously been thoroughly vetted by Tottenham’s scouts and top brass. They are assured he is worth the every penny of the £30 million.
At just 22 years of age, Bergwijn has a long, expectedly fruitful future ahead. Along with knowing how to find the back of the net, the Dutchman is particularly good at threading the needle. For a front man, Bergwijn passes more like a central midfielder, confident in every delivery, regardless of distance or difficulty.
The burning question, though, is whether he can immediately, and significantly, increase Spurs’ goal output. Bergwijn, since joining PSV in 2016-17, has yet to score at a rate of one per two games. So clearly Bergwijn isn’t yet a prolific scorer.
However, the 2018-19 Eredivisie season was by far his best with PSV. He scored 14 goals in 33 starts, an impressive goal return of .44 per match. Even more impressively, Bergwijn added 12 assists to his offensive output. Those numbers, especially at the tender age of 22, hold clout.
But exactly how much clout?
Not to be an eternal pessimist, but the Eredivisie’s level of difficulty pales in comparison to the Premier League. Defenders in England’s top flight are relentless, physical, alert and often unerring.
So can a 22-year-old who hasn’t consistently dominated Holland’s first division come to Spurs and be an immediate difference maker?
He certainly has the skill set to do so. And who knows, if he gets hot and gains confidence, he might just take the league by storm, elevating Spurs to another level. His 12 assists last season provide ample reason for optimism.
Next. Tottenham close to announcing signing of PSV forward Steven Bergwijn. dark
He’ll be worth his weight in gold if he moves to north London and makes those around him – Lucas Moura, Son Heung-Min, Dele Alli – better. While anyone associated with Tottenham knows the club doesn’t need another setup man, Bergwijn’s upside might just be worth the risk, even if he doesn’t score goals for Spurs by the bundle from the outset.