Talent scout claims Tottenham have ‘more offensive Frenkie De Jong’

Speaking to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, European talent scout Marca Palma has had plenty of praise for Spurs youngster Lucas Bergvall.

The 18-year-old is seen as the next big star out of Sweden and already has three caps for the national team despite his junior status. The midfielder had an impressive pre-season and looked bright in his cameo against Leicester City on opening weekend, where he will have felt aggrieved not to have come up with a game-winning assist in the final seconds of the game.

Palma has been impressed with Bergvall's development so far, and named the Spurs youngster as one of the five best young talents in Europe - and says he reminds him of FC Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong.

Palma said "Then there is the 2006 Lucas Bergvall, Swedish central attacking midfielder, 187cm, of Tottenham, For many the most gifted 2006 in the European panorama, in Sweden, he arrived in the first team at 16 years old.

Talent scout claims Tottenham have ‘more offensive Frenkie De Jong’

Great ability to play the ball, a high-level vision of the game, elegance on the pitch, gifted with excellent technique, and enormous versatility. In July 2024 he was bought by Tottenham who paid 10 million for him and immediately included him in the first team.

[In the] senior national team, he entered in both matches played by Sweden demonstrating great mastery on the pitch. Reminiscent of Frenkie De Jong but more offensive.”

Of course, Bergvall was technically purchased by Spurs back in January, but you get the gist of what Palma is trying to say, and his general opinion fills you with excitement on what is to come from Bergvall.

The point about De Jong is interesting too. When the teenager came on for the aforementioned cameo against Leicester, Ange seemed to play him deeper, with several attackers on the pitch. You could see Bergvall playing deeper becoming more of a regular thing as time goes on.