Man United target Bergvall again after two failed trials as Spurs star weighs up exit

Manchester United are monitoring Lucas Bergvall for a third time after twice failing to sign the Swedish midfielder, who is now reportedly open to leaving Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

Bergvall, 20, first trialled at Old Trafford in 2020, shortly before post-Brexit rules prevented English clubs from signing under-18 players from abroad. He returned to Carrington in 2022, but changes within United’s recruitment department meant a deal was never completed. He subsequently joined Swedish club Djurgården, where his performances attracted Spurs, who signed him in 2024.

The midfielder enjoyed a strong debut season at Tottenham, winning the club’s supporters’ player of the year award and playing a key role in their Europa League triumph — though injury ruled him out of the final against United. However, he managed only 11 Premier League starts last term and has slipped down the pecking order under incoming head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who is targeting Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali to bolster his midfield options.

BBC Sport has reported that Bergvall’s representatives have held discussions with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Chelsea, signalling that a departure from north London is a genuine possibility.

United’s interest is longstanding and informed. Having watched Bergvall up close across two trial spells, the club’s coaching staff are already familiar with his profile. He is now part of a broader midfield rebuild at Old Trafford following Casemiro’s departure, with United having already secured Atalanta’s Ederson and continuing to scout further additions.

Bergvall has drawn comparisons to Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong — himself a long-running United transfer target — owing to his ability to operate as a box-to-box number eight. “He’s a little copy of Frenkie de Jong,” Djurgården sports coordinator Peter Kisfaludy told football.london in 2024. “His best position is as a number eight. He’s a box-to-box player, running into the box and he’s really good at playing the ball between the lines.”

Whether United move formally for Bergvall remains to be seen, but his availability and their existing knowledge of him make this a transfer situation worth watching closely as the summer window develops.