Chelsea are targeting Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall as part of a five-man shortlist to replace Enzo Fernandez. The Blues are scrambling for a replacement as Manchester City attempt to sign Fernandez on transfer deadline day.
Tottenham Hotspur's difficult start to the season, sitting 20th in the Premier League with zero points from two defeats, adds a challenging backdrop to this transfer speculation. The club has yet to score a goal this campaign while conceding five, leaving them six points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Their next test is an away trip to face Nottingham Forest on September 5th.
The search for a new midfielder has led Chelsea to consider players from direct rivals. The shortlist includes Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi and Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall. Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White is also a target. Chelsea manager Xabo Alonso has three additional names under review, with the club already seeing a £38.5 million bid for Monaco's Lamine Camara rejected. Roma's Manu Kone is another player being considered by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.
Both North London clubs have moved quickly to shut down any possibility of a sale. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was emphatic about Zubimendi's status. "No, he’s a really important player. He’s a really important player for us," Arteta said. For Tottenham, the situation around Bergvall had been uncertain earlier in the window, with the player reportedly wanting to depart. However, Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi has now provided a definitive answer. "Lucas Bergvall, 100 per cent," De Zerbi stated, confirming the Swedish midfielder will remain with the club.
Tottenham's need to retain key players is amplified by their current injury situation and poor form. Key attacking talents Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, and James Maddison are all currently sidelined, depleting Roberto De Zerbi's options. This makes holding onto a promising talent like Bergvall even more important as the club looks to climb the standings. The collapse of a move for Morgan Gibbs-White, who instead signed a new deal with Forest after the club threatened legal action, shows the complexities of deadline day dealings.
With the transfer window closing and the season underway, fans can keep track of all Tottenham Hotspur's upcoming matches on our dedicated fixtures page. The next match against Nottingham Forest, who are 15th in the table, is scheduled for September 5th. Supporters can also monitor the recovery of the club's injured players through our injuries section as De Zerbi works to turn around the team's fortunes after a winless start.
