Roberto De Zerbi and Johan Lange have assured Spurs star Lucas Bergvall of his part in the club’s future | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Roberto De Zerbi and sporting director Johan Lange have held talks with Lucas Bergvall, according to The Telegraph.

The Sweden international has expressed a desire to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club as he is concerned over his playing opportunities.

Bergvall started in just one of the seven Premier League games De Zerbi oversaw last term and was substituted during the second-half of that game – against Sunderland.

The 20-year-old came off the bench in his other four appearances under the Spurs boss and is keen to leave the North London club.

However, Tottenham insist Bergvall is not for sale, and both De Zerbi and Lange have assured him of his part in the club’s future.

He made 23 Premier League appearances for Spurs last season, weighing in with three assists and one goal.

He also played in ten games across other competitions, starting 17 times in total.

The Lilywhites are looking to strengthen in the middle of the park and want to sign both Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes if possible.

Signing both players could see Bergvall struggle for more playing chances, and he could still look to leave if the duo arrive.

He prefers playing in the number eight position, which does not appear best suited to the 4-2-3-1 system De Zerbi used at the end of last season.

It is something which has also been noticeable in training.

The Italian preferred deploying Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha in front of his defence as Tottenham chased safety, while Conor Gallagher featured in the number 10 role.

It remains to be seen where exactly Bergvall is in De Zerbi’s pecking order going forward, but he is not short of suitors in the Premier League and could insist on leaving if not guaranteed a place in the starting XI.