TRANSFER BATTLE: VILLA AND LIVERPOOL PLOT SUMMER MOVES FOR TOTTENHAM STAR LUCAS BERGVALL
Lucas Bergvall is the subject of a massive transfer tug-of-war! Discover why Villa and Liverpool are targeting the Spurs star.
Aston Villa are still watching Lucas Bergvall pretty closely and might even try to tempt Tottenham this summer if the chance comes up. Liverpool is lurking, too, ready to make things interesting.
Tottenham’s season has been rough. They brought in Igor Tudor to stop the slide after Thomas Frank’s time in charge fell apart and dragged them towards the bottom of the table.
Villa have liked Bergvall for a while now. They’ve tracked him for some time and even asked about him in January when they missed out on Conor Gallagher. Tottenham wouldn’t let him go, though.
Inside Spurs, people see Bergvall, who’s only 20, as one of their best long-term prospects. They’ve made it clear he’s not for sale. Still, a lot rides on how Tottenham finish the season and who they choose as their next manager. If things stay shaky at the club, other teams might sense an opening.
Villa think they have something to offer: European football, a team that’s clearly on the up, and the chance to be a big part of something. They know prying Bergvall away won’t be easy, but they believe their project could turn his head if Spurs keep struggling.
Liverpool is in the mix, too. They’re tracking young midfielders across Europe, and Bergvall’s on their radar. Their interest could make things even trickier for Villa if Tottenham start to waver.
Tottenham rate Bergvall as one of the best young players around and would slap a big price tag on him to scare off bidders. But after a messy run of results, the club faces more financial pressure, and there’s a feeling that nothing is truly off-limits if a huge offer comes in.
Bergvall has already played 16 times for Spurs this season, scoring once and setting up four more. He’s a Swedish international with six caps, but he hasn’t featured since January because of an ankle injury that needed surgery. He’s expected to be out for another six weeks.
Even with the injury, Villa and Liverpool are undeterred. Both clubs see Bergvall as a top young talent worth chasing.
REVEALED: WHY EVERTON IS FIRMLY REJECTING TOTTENHAM’S SURPRISING MOVE FOR KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALLTODAY
Everton is set to block Tottenham's move for Dewsbury-Hall. Discover why the £8B Friedkin Group is ending the "fire sale" era.
The rumour that Tottenham is trying to snag Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Everton is one of the more surprising transfer stories I've heard this year.
With Everton having a break in their schedule, gossip is filling the void. Football Insider says their sources tell them Everton is ready to block any attempts to lure Dewsbury-Hall away. The club is firm that they won't sell the 27-year-old, despite Spurs' supposed interest.
Where this Tottenham talk came from is anyone's guess, but the thought that the Everton chiefs or the player would even consider such a move seems odd. Remember back in 2022, Richarlison's transfer from Everton to Spurs was worked out over dinner at Scott's in Mayfair.
Even though that fancy seafood place has caviar and a champagne bar, Everton's late chairman, Bill Kenwright,t didn't enjoy the deal. He felt Spurs chairman Daniel Levy took advantage of Everton's need to sell to meet financial rules. Everton ended up selling Richarlison for around £20 million less than they wanted. To make things worse, Everton was still found to have broken those financial rules.
But those days are gone. Everton now plays at a stadium that experts say will bring in an extra £60 million a year. They also have ambitious new owners, The Friedkin Group (Dan Friedkin is currently ranked as one of the richest people in the world, with an estimated fortune of around £8.13 billion).
David Moyes, the team's most consistent manager, who got Everton into the top eight nine times, including a fourth-place finish in 2004/05, is back in charge. He also played a key role in bringing Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea.
Dewsbury-Hall was on Moyes' radar when he came back in January. Last November, Dewsbury-Hall said he was sure he made the right choice when he moved for £25 million in August. He said, 'I had a few options after a good season.' After talking to family, friends, and people at Everton, if I were going to leave a club like Chelsea, it had to be for something I really wanted: a new project, a new stadium, an exciting future, and real plans.
“I wanted to be at the start of this new chapter. It's important to be a part of a club's history.
“I spoke to the manager, and he was great. He told me what he wanted from me and what he wants in the future. I respect him a lot because I appreciate what he’s done. I think we're similar people.
“It just felt right. Since I've been here, I know it's the right decision because of how I've been treated and how my family's been treated. Everything's been first class.
“It makes me realise I made the right decision, and I’m excited about what we can do in the future. I’m excited to come in every day and get better and see what happens.”
He added, “The feeling at the club is like a real family. I don’t really know how to explain it.
“The fans are so big, and it means so much to them, which I love because football is my life, and it feels like it’s theirs. We're on the same page.
“I see how passionate they are and how much they want to win, and it resonates with me because that’s how I live my life. I'm not saying the other clubs weren't like that, but Everton's on a different level.”
Dewsbury-Hall understands Everton, both in his words and how he plays.
After a disagreement with Nottingham Forest's captain in the 3-0 win in December, he was asked what happened. He said, “I don’t know; it gets heated sometimes.
“It’s nothing serious. But if you play for this club, you’ve got to show you care. I enjoyed it.”
He enjoyed his time in London at Stamford Bridge, winning medals in the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup, but why would Dewsbury-Hall want to join Spurs, who finished poorly last season and have been firing managers left and right?
The only reason for Dewsbury-Hall to go back to London anytime soon is to enjoy his guilty pleasure of musical theatre and see a show. At least Mr Kenwright would have liked that!
SALAH REPLACEMENT FOUND? JARROD BOWEN TIPPED TO SNUB REAL MADRID'S RODRYGO FOR LIVERPOOL
Is Mo Salah leaving? Andy Townsend backs Jarrod Bowen to replace the legend at Liverpool over Real Madrid’s unsettled Rodrygo.
Andy Townsend thinks West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen would be a way better pick to replace Mohamed Salah than Rodrygo from Real Madrid, and he’s sure Bowen would jump at the chance. Last year, Liverpool looked at Rodrygo after Luis Díaz left for Bayern Munich. Arsenal and Man City showed interest, too.
For a while, it seemed Rodrygo might land in the Premier League. He wasn’t getting much time on the pitch with Xabi Alonso in charge at Real. But after the summer window closed, Rodrygo made it clear he wanted to stick around in Madrid.
Still, Townsend sees Bowen as the more realistic option. With Salah possibly nearing the end of his Liverpool run, Arne Slot is already shaping a squad that can chase trophies in the coming years.
Talking to BOYLE Sports, Townsend put it simply: “Who can Liverpool bring in to take Salah’s place next season? I think Jarrod Bowen would do very well for Liverpool.
“I don’t really get the Rodrygo rumours. Sure, if you play for Real Madrid, you’ve got serious talent, but I’ve never seen him as a Galactico.
“Bowen would absolutely go to Liverpool and be a real danger for them on the right. They’d have Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike, and Jarrod Bowen.
“They give you pace, energy, goals, and a real end product. That’s a front line with everything you want.
Liverpool has to look at Bowen because, honestly, I can’t see Salah staying past this summer. Whatever’s going on at Anfield, it’s knocked some of the wind out of Mo’s sails.
“Maybe it’s a relationship thing; maybe it’s just age. Whatever it is, he’s not going to keep up those numbers forever.
“It looks like Mo’s running out of steam, and there’s no shame in that. It’s football. It happens.
“His best days are behind him, and they need to move on.”
Salah’s been Liverpool’s main man for eight seasons straight, always the top scorer, but this year he’s slowed down a bit.
He’s only scored four Premier League goals in 16 games, plus two more in seven Champions League matches. That’s a noticeable drop from what he usually delivers.
Since joining from Roma in June 2017, Salah has racked up 252 goals in 428 games for Liverpool, putting himself among the club’s all-time legends.