De Zerbi: Unhappy Tottenham players should leave - Bergvall future in doubt

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi has laid down the law ahead of the new season, insisting that any player not fully committed to the club should find a new home this summer. Speaking before Spurs' pre-season friendly against Auckland FC in New Zealand, the Italian made clear his stance amid growing uncertainty over midfielder Lucas Bergvall's future. Nottingham Forest had a £38m bid rejected and are expected to return with an improved offer in the region of £45m. "I was very clear at the start of my time at Tottenham. I said, who doesn't want to stay, who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave," De Zerbi said. "I want the players to be proud and happy to stay here, to go on the pitch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with big motivation. Because now in football, if you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference. The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team." De Zerbi, who took over at the end of March and steered Tottenham away from Premier League relegation last season, admitted he has not yet spoken to the 20-year-old Sweden international. "I will in the next days and we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us, without problems. Lucas is a big, big talent." Bergvall, who joined from Djurgarden in 2024, made only limited appearances under De Zerbi towards the end of last term, starting the Italian's first game - a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland - and then featuring four times as a substitute. Tottenham have been active in the market, bringing in midfielders Sandro Tonali in a £100m deal from Newcastle United and Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham, as well as defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi. De Zerbi confirmed the club is not done yet: "We have to finish, we have to bring another couple of players - maybe more, maybe not less - but a couple. The target is to complete the attacking positions." Bergvall is part of the squad in New Zealand, but wingers Mohammed Kudus (thigh) and Dejan Kulusevski (knee) did not travel due to long-term injuries. De Zerbi provided an update: "Kudus is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us. It's a great thing for us. Kulusevski, we have to see in the next couple of weeks. After one complete season without a game, we have to analyse better and better, don't take risks, first of all for him and then for us." Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Xavi Simons recalled the devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in April, which required surgery and ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup. "The first four days were the worst days of my life," he told Tottenham's website. "I couldn't sleep, I didn't eat for one week. I was in a lot of pain. I was vomiting and felt dizzy... I don't wish no-one to go through that pain. This is what it is. I'm happy and in a good place now."