Tottenham Hotspur have one of the best young center midfielders in world football, but you would not realize it if you were a neutral outside of the focus of the club. Lucas Bergvall was instrumental in Spurs winning the Europa League last season, and the 19 year old was so good that even Real Madrid were being linked to him.
Bergvall, though, has been mostly discarded from the starting lineup by new manager Thomas Frank this season, as he is one of several young talents who, instead of being nurtured hired by a manager with the expectation of helping youth, has been actively held back from shining this season.
Things may get worse for Bergvall. As he recovers from a minor injury, Bergvall could be displaced from the starting lineup for the rest of the season by Conor Gallagher, who just joined Spurs for 40 million euros after the injury to Rodrigo Bentancur. Although Gallagher is a theoretical replacement in the squad to Bentancur as a veteran midfielder, his playing style as a No. 8 is closer to Bergvall's than Benta's.
Conor Gallagher is a looming presence
In the press conference prior to Tottenham Hotspur's big rivalry matchup against West Ham United in the Premier League, manager Thomas Frank told reporters that center midfielder Lucas Bergvall "could be available" to face the Hammers.
The thing is, Tottenham fans are not really buying what Frank is telling them. First of all, they have seen too many positive updates turn to nothing as far as injuries or returns go. Secondly, Frank has left Bergvall out of the starting lineup or contention for significant minutes so often that it is second nature to doubt him. And thirdly, Gallagher is able to play on Saturday to make his Tottenham debut and is expected to do so. Frank tends to favor veteran players in all cases, including Bentancur and Joao Palhinha over Bergvall, so it is likely he will also prefer a 40 million euro transfer from Atletico Madrid.
Bergvall is in a tough place. He has only started 10 Premier League games this season with 6 additional appearances off the bench. His starts have increased with five between January and December - half of his starts this season in the last two months - but that seems to be now on the down swing with Gallagher coming in.
Tottenham fans, unfortunately, know better than to trust Frank here. He may be giving Spurs supporters hope that they will see their teenage gem in the lineup on Saturday against West Ham, but it is, until proven otherwise, nothing more than empty words and false hope.