Arsenal join Chelsea in race for £57m Tottenham midfielder

Arsenal and Chelsea are keeping a close eye on Lucas Bergvall, the 20-year-old Swedish midfielder whose future at Tottenham Hotspur grows murkier by the week. Both clubs are seriously interested and are expected to make creative offers this summer, especially as Spurs fight to avoid the Championship, a battle that could ultimately decide where Bergvall plays next season.

Arsenal and Chelsea are interested as Lucas Bergvall becomes summer’s most wanted midfielder

Tottenham currently sit 18th in the Premier League, so the club are focused entirely on survival rather than transfer plans. That context is huge; it shifts the power dynamic in a way that even a long-term contract can’t fully protect. Bergvall originally signed a five-year deal for a reported £8.5 million in February 2024, choosing Spurs over Barcelona, a choice that looks riskier now given the club’s current struggle. Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio confirmed that Tottenham aren’t listening to offers yet and haven’t even decided which players they’ll keep or sell. However, going down would almost certainly force a very different conversation.

Bergvall has been one of the few bright spots for Tottenham this season, and the higher-ups see him as the heart of their midfield for years to come. He scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–0 win over West Ham in September 2025, taking home Player of the Match honours and becoming the second-youngest Spurs player to score and assist in a single league game. Those stats say plenty about where he’s headed.

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What Arsenal and Chelsea actually bring to the table?

Chelsea and Newcastle both had interest knocked back in January, with Spurs dismissing bids of around £40 million. Chelsea are now planning a more formal move for the summer, particularly with Enzo Fernández’s future up in the air following a disciplinary suspension under manager Liam Rosenior. Analysts now value Bergvall at roughly £57 million, a price jump that shows just how fast his stock is rising.

For Arsenal, the move is just as logical but perhaps more tactical. Mikel Arteta has wanted a technically gifted, press-resistant midfielder for a while, and Bergvall, often compared to club legend Christian Eriksen, is exactly one of that profile. Arsenal tend to be more disciplined with their spending, so they would likely only move if the price feels right, making a £55 million bid a realistic possibility.

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Right now, Chelsea’s need feels a bit more desperate. Their midfield is thin and prone to injuries, and Bergvall’s ability to play centrally, box-to-box, or as a playmaker gives them the flexibility they lack. While Arsenal see him as a high-level upgrade, Chelsea see him as a necessity. That difference in urgency could be the deciding factor when the window opens.