Aston Villa odds slashed on agreeing Lucas Bergvall deal
Aston Villa could be about to move for Lucas Bergvall after seeing their odds slashed by a top bookmaker on being his next club.
Bergvall has indicated his desire to leave Tottenham this summer after struggling for game time towards the end of last season.
The arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have also fuelled talk of him leaving the club for pastures new.
Roberto De Zerbi has continued to utilise him in pre-season, however, and admitted that he wants him to stick around in North London.
Villa have been linked with a move for Bergvall this summer as Unai Emery searches for more midfield additions.
Numerous other Premier League clubs have seen approaches for his services rebuffed, but he is expected to depart Spurs soon.
Aston Villa have odds to sign Lucas Bergvall slashed to 7/1
Bergvall signed a new contract at Spurs just over 12 months ago to tie his future down until 2031, but his fortunes have changed drastically in the last few months.
The 20-year-old failed to start any of their final six games of last season, and believes he will be able to play more regularly at another Premier League club.
Sources exclusively revealed to Football Insider earlier in the window that Villa were ready to accelerate their pursuit of Bergvall after he handed in a transfer request.
They enquired about his availability in the January window, but Spurs had no plans to sell him midway through the campaign.
Villa have now seen their odds slashed to 7/1 to sign him this summer, with Emery potentially looking to agree a deal to further bolster his midfield ranks.
What has De Zerbi said about Bergvall's future?
Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have seen offers rejected for Bergvall this summer, and both remain a shorter price to sign him than Villa right now.
He has started all of Spurs' last three pre-season friendlies, but could well be on his way out of the club soon even though De Zerbi has admitted that he wants him to stay and fight for his place in his starting eleven.
Speaking to reporters about the situation in July, the Spurs boss said: "I'm always being very clear with him and with you. I would like that he stays with us. I think he's potentially a top, top, top player. But then I don't want to convince anyone to stay. Tottenham is already, without me, a top club and we are not trying to convince anyone to stay.
"He can find the space if he stays with us. The competition within the players will be very strong because we are Tottenham and we have to build a strong squad - not just 11 players - especially considering a lot of injuries we suffered in the last two, three seasons."