Lucas Bergvall explains why he signed new Tottenham contract amid summer transfer exit links

Lucas Bergvall has extended his stay at Tottenham Hotspur, putting pen to paper on a new contract.

Lucas Bergvall has signed a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur. The 20-year-old midfielder faced a somewhat uncertain future in the summer transfer window, but Roberto De Zerbi was eager to help him 'reach his full potential' and managed to fend off interest from potential suitors.

Speaking to club media, the Lilywhites boss said: "Every day in training you can see Lucas' desire to learn, improve and push himself to the highest level. Lucas is brave, he wants responsibility and has the personality to play in big moments.

"He also understands that development is a process, and he has shown a fantastic attitude towards working on the areas of his game where he can become even better. I believe his best football is still ahead of him, and we want to give Lucas the platform to reach his full potential."

Despite a shaky start to the new Premier League season, with Tottenham yet to win a game, Bergvall has been excited by the progress made so far under De Zerbi. Explaining why he decided to put pen to paper on new terms with the Lilywhites, the Sweden international said: "I think we're building something great here.

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"It's an exciting time for the club, and that's why I'm happy to extend my contract. I'm always trying to achieve as much as possible, to be the best version of myself both on and off the pitch, and I know this is the right place to do that.

"Personally, my goal is to produce more for the team - performances, goals and assists - to help as much as I can. I'm getting better every day in training, and I'm looking forward to what will be a really good season ahead."

Johan Lange was just as pleased to get a deal over the line, claiming it's a reflection of Bergvall's hard work and standing in the squad. The Spurs sporting director said: "Lucas is an outstanding young player with enormous potential and we are delighted that he has committed his future to the club.

"From the moment he arrived, he has demonstrated not only his technical ability and intelligence on the pitch, but also the character we expect from our players. Lucas has a fantastic attitude to his work.

"He is eager to learn and improve every day, and he has become an important part of the group. This new contract is a reflection of our belief in Lucas and the role we see him playing both now and in the future of the club."

Back in July, Jermaine Jenas compared Bergvall's situation at Tottenham to that of Luka Modric in 2008. During an exclusive interview with football.london , the former Spurs midfielder said: "It's a tricky one, Lucas.

"It reminds me a little bit of Luka Modric when Luka arrived at the football club. I feel like with Luka, we didn't quite know where to play him at that particular time when he arrived.

"Because when he arrived, he was so slight as a player, unbelievable on the ball, but I think everybody's assumption was that he was like a number 10. As the weeks went by, it took Harry Redknapp's experience and trust to look at him and go, 'You know what, he's a centre-midfield player and he can mix it in there. I can trust him there.'

"Because in the Premier League, it's so athletic and you've got to be so strong and so fit in the middle of the park. I think we always make that mistake in England, assuming that, actually, when you put ball players in there, they know how to deal with the game in that centre-midfield area.

"And Bergvall has just fallen into that bracket of: where do you play him? Is he more of where Martin Odegaard plays for Arsenal, or is he a deeper-lying midfield player? Is he more of a 6 or an 8?

"I've seen him do them all and he does them well. He's also very young, so he's going to have those kind of up-and-down moments, but the one thing he hasn't really managed to do is just hold down a spot."

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