There is no denying the fact that Lucas Bergvall is one of the most promising young center midfielders in European football, hence why Tottenham Hotspur fans are bristling at the transfer rumors of him leaving the club for a Premier League rival like Chelsea, Arsenal, or Aston Villa this summer transfer window - let alone Real Madrid in La Liga.
Bergvall was important in Tottenham winning the Europa League last season. But this season, the young Swedish international has taken a rather significant step backwards. Yes, a lot of his issues were under Thomas Frank, who could not play him in the right role, and, yes, this whole team is mired in dysfunction. And injuries have not helped either, though they are another concern that actually goes against Bergvall.
But watching Bergvall over the first few games under new Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi, who was thought to be a huge boon for the 20 year old workhorse midfielder, really highlights a concern Spurs have to have at this point. He hasn't been good enough.
Lucas Bergvall is not in his best moment
In their last two improved results, drawing 2-2 with Brighton and then beating Wolves 1-0, Bergvall has been demoted to the bench. And it is hard not to argue against De Zerbi for sidelining the future star man. Tottenham's middling veterans like Rodrigo Bentancur and even Conor Gallagher have offered more all around robustness, particularly defensively and creatively, as box to box midfielders.
Now, Lucas Bergvall did bag an assist against Brighton and has made an impact off the bench, but that may be the right role for him with the stakes of the relegation battle. Bergvall has been bette for Tottenham Hotspur lately as a game changing bench X-Factor than rather a mainstay starter, as he was very disappointing even without Thomas Frank as a regular.
Tottenham want to give Bergvall the minutes. They can see he is a special talent and needs the minutes to continue his trajectory in his development. Yet at the same time, Spurs can't preach patience the way they would want when they are faced with the prospect of the EFL Championship, with relegation then, in turn, actually increasing the chances of them losing Bergvall permanently.
Bergvall is right where he belongs for the remainder of the season with Spurs trapped between a rock and a hard place. He is useful to them in some capacity and needs to continue playing, but he has not proven he has the consistency of a starter. Yet. Well, at least not in this current form.
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