Tottenham Hotspur are building cautious optimism this summer despite finishing 17th in the Premier League in each of the last two seasons.
Roberto De Zerbi has already spent over £230m on new additions, with a clear priority placed on overhauling the club’s midfield department.
Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have arrived for a combined £185m, with both deals individually breaking Spurs’ previous transfer record.
The pair are expected to bring quality and Premier League experience to De Zerbi’s side, but their arrivals have cast doubt over Lucas Bergvall’s future at the club.
The 20-year-old Swedish midfielder contributed one goal and three assists last season, offering one of the few bright spots during a difficult Premier League campaign.
Bergvall has since stated his desire to leave Spurs this summer, with both Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United having submitted offers for his signature.
Speaking ahead of a pre-season fixture, De Zerbi addressed the situation directly, saying: “I have not spoken with Lucas yet, I will in the next days. And we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me.”
The Spurs manager added: “Without problems, Lucas is a big, big talent. There will be a big competition to play because at the end I think we will be two players for each position. If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution.”
Spurs are understood to be valuing Bergvall at £60m, a remarkable profit having signed him for just £8m two years ago.
Beyond the Bergvall situation, De Zerbi’s hierarchy are now pushing to bring in a third midfielder this summer to further strengthen the engine room.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott has appeared on the club’s radar, though another outlay approaching £80m is considered unlikely given the investment already made this window.
Cheaper alternatives are therefore being explored, with former Chelsea star N’Golo Kante emerging as a surprise target for the North London club ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Turkish journalist Talha Arslan has reported that Spurs have expressed genuine interest in signing Kante from Super Lig side Fenerbahce this summer.
The 35-year-old only joined Fenerbahce in February, but a return to English football appears to be on the table following his three-year stint with Al Ittihad.
Despite his age, Kante demonstrated impressive numbers in European competition last season, outperforming Bergvall in key areas including dribble and pass completion rates.
He also won 56% of his ground duels and averaged 2.9 tackles per 90 minutes, figures that placed him above 85% of all midfielders across the continent.
Kante’s 6.2 ball recoveries and 1.6 interceptions per game ranked him inside the top 20% of European midfielders, backing up Frankie Lampard’s claim that he is “one of the best midfielders in the world.”
His trophy haul speaks for itself, encompassing two Premier League titles, a Champions League and a World Cup winner’s medal with France.
Bringing Kante to Spurs would likely push Bergvall further toward the exit door, potentially freeing the club to recoup another substantial fee for a player originally signed for a bargain price.
While Kante would serve as a squad option rather than a guaranteed starter, his experience and quality could provide Tonali and Fernandes with a proven mentor at the heart of De Zerbi’s midfield.