De Zerbi Confirms Bergvall's Future Amid Sarr's Uncertainty
Roberto De Zerbi has drawn a firm line over Lucas Bergvall’s future – but left the door wide open on Pape Sarr and a clutch of Tottenham’s brightest youngsters.
De Zerbi shuts down Bergvall exit talk
With the transfer window ticking towards its September 1 close, Bergvall’s name has been dragged through the rumour mill all summer. That stops here, as far as De Zerbi is concerned.
“Lucas Bergvall, 100 per cent,” he said, without blinking when asked if the midfielder would still be at Spurs after the deadline.
The Italian revealed he held extensive talks with the young Swede during pre-season and came away convinced.
“We spoke a lot in pre-season. He’s a top player with top potential player. I think now that he wants to stay and we have no problem.”
No hesitation. No caveats. Bergvall, in De Zerbi’s mind, is a pillar of the project, not a trading chip.
Sarr’s future still in play
The tone changed when the conversation moved to Pape Sarr.
The Senegal international has attracted strong interest from Brentford and is now the subject of a serious push from Galatasaray, who are working to prise him out of north London before the window shuts.
De Zerbi admitted the situation is far less settled.
“For Pape, he started pre-season late because he started in Senegal until first week in August, I think,” he said.
“He’s a good player. I don’t know if he stays or not. We have to analyse the situation. But he is another very, very important player.”
So Sarr is valued, clearly. But unlike Bergvall, there are no guarantees. Tottenham must weigh a tempting market against a manager who sees the midfielder as a key piece.
Moore and academy starlets at a crossroads
Attention then turned to Mikey Moore, the 19-year-old winger who spent last season on loan at Rangers and is again being tipped for another temporary move.
De Zerbi’s admiration for the teenager was obvious.
“I am happy with Mikey Moore,” he said. “He is working well. He is a good player.
“I don’t know or not if he goes on loan. He has big potential for the club.”
The same applies to Luca Williams-Barnett and Malachi Hardy, two more academy products pushing into the manager’s thoughts.
“We try to find the best solution for every player we have. Also for Luca Williams-Barnett and Malachi Hardy. Big potentials. We’re proud they come from our academy.”
That is the tightrope Tottenham now walk: keep talent close and nurture it under De Zerbi, or send it out into the world to harden on loan. With Bergvall locked in, Sarr courted from abroad and Moore on the cusp of another move, the next fortnight will say plenty about how bold this new regime really wants to be.
