The “Modric-like” Spurs star may not start again this season

It’s been an old season for Tottenham Hotspur, but Roberto De Zerbi has taught the Londoners to believe again, enjoying a huge impact in the last few weeks.

De Zerbi was appointed during the March break, and Igor Tudor was sacked after a poor fit to replace Thomas Frank, who was sacked in February and Spurs went top.

It’s been a tough year, but the new gaffer has been given just seven games to take Tottenham out of the Premier League, and following back-to-back wins in the Midlands, against Wolves and Aston Villa, Spurs sit two points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham United.

This is progress, but the north Londoners are far from safe, and if they are to survive the final few weeks of the season, De Zerbi needs his starting stars to continue to shine as they have in the past few weeks.

How can Spurs avoid relegation

Although his long-term future at Tottenham is uncertain, there is no doubt that Micky van de Ven is one of De Zerbi’s most important players, and he could be the winner in the last few weeks.

Tottenham have had holes all year, and are one of the most prolific teams in the Premier League. However, they have improved under De Zerbi’s management. Coach has been tough on them, scoring just a 1.02 xGA in their last two wins.

Captain Cristian Romero shed tears when he was forced off injured when De Zerbi beat Sunderland. The Argentine international’s hamstring tear will keep him sidelined for a long time, effectively ending his Spurs career as he looks to leave in the summer.

But with the midfield now rejuvenated following Rodrigo Bentancur’s return from injury, there is a feeling around north London that Tottenham can add another win to their growing collection at the weekend, when Leeds United travel to N17.

Bentancur has built an impressive partnership with Conor Gallagher and the struggling Joao Palhinha in the past few weeks, and Tottenham’s midfield is set in stone.

Now that he’s hit a winning streak, De Zerbi must keep his senior squad together in the final few weeks of the season, even if that comes at the expense of Luka Modric’s new club.

Why De Zerbi dumped Spurs’ new Modric

Tottenham have been stuck in purgatory this season, but if De Zerbi can pull it off, the Lilywhites will have new hope in their ability to challenge for Europe and silverware again.

At the heart of this will be Lucas Bergvall, who has been thrown into the deep end since Tottenham hijacked Barcelona’s bid and brought the Swedish talent to the club in January 2024, under Ange Postecoglou.

A dynamic and attacking midfielder, Bergvall has completed 60.9% of his balls in the Premier League, which puts him in the top bracket. In addition, he has won many tackles and played a key role in keeping Spurs from sinking this season and last year in the Premier League.

Bergvall’s outstanding characteristic is his skillful technique, his way of collecting the ball with precision and running forward with the grace of the ball. There is a solidity to his game, however, and for that, he was praised by The Athletic’s JJ Bull for having “the first touch of Luka Modric”.

This season, the 20-year-old has played prominently in the Premier League, but he is still very young, and has not started since the defeat to Sunderland in De Zerbi’s first game in charge, having been caught after an hour of losing 12 of their previous opponents.

Can Bergvall continue to compete with someone of Modric’s stature on the world stage? It’s a tricky field to reach, because the Croatian is one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, winner of the 2018 Ballon d’Or.

However, he has many opportunities, although that does not mean that he should be starting games right now.

Chelsea and Aston Villa both expressed an interest in the £50m-rated midfielder at the start of the year, and Spurs will not let him leave this summer. Bergvall has a big future ahead of him, but right now, as De Zerbi’s midfielder continues to develop, it would be a really risky move to make a change at the end of this season which is in danger of being relegated.