Who is Lucas Bergvall? The Swedish wonderkid linked to Barcelona and Newcastle

12 Jan 2024 04:15 CST
6 min read

Lucas Bergvall is regarded as one of Sweden's most promising young talents.

The teenager is currently playing as a midfielder for Allsvenskan club Djurgardens IF, but there have been strong links to the Premier League and La Liga.

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The youngster has 18 months left on his contract and it’s believed that his current side will demand a high fee.

Some reports have even stated that Newcastle launched a proposal for Bergvall, but it’s not clear yet whether it’s been accepted or not.

But just who is this young star and what could he offer these sides?

What position does Lucas Bergvall play in?

It’s early days yet but Bergvall has primarily been playing as central midfielder. SciSports registers him primarily as an advanced playmaker though he can be poised as a box-to-box player, too.

How good is Lucas Bergvall?

Bergvall came out of the prolific IF Brommapojkarna youth academy, developing under the same school as Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP.

He played a crucial role in the club's promotion to the Allsvenskan when he was 16 years old, before making the move to Swedish champions Djurgarden for a fee of €900,000. It’s the second-highest fee that club has ever paid, with the acquisition of Kim Kallstrom in 2002 for €1.66million.

Djurgarden have not rushed Bergvall by any measure - in 30 league games, he played 974 minutes and 11 starts, and he outshone every player in his age group in Sweden. Of course, this has ignited anticipation for Bergvall's future.

Bergvall can play either as a No.8 or No.10. He is known for his exquisite passes and deft control of the ball. His tactical nous is also second to none, especially given the fact he is just about to turn 18.

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He is a tall player, at around 6 ft 1 inches, and he may grow taller. It means he can cover a lot of ground using huge strides, carrying the ball to the final third if not putting through a neat pass. Bergvall possesses great technique and footwork. His competency relies solely in possession, however.

Physically, Bergvall needs more time to develop - something that will naturally come with time. The potential for him to evolve into an exceptionally well-rounded midfielder is evident, and he has started to find a knack for scoring goals, too.

While his shooting skills are commendable, there is scope for refinement in this area. Notably, he frequently positions himself intelligently around the box, presenting goal-scoring opportunities.

What clubs are interested in signing Lucas Bergvall?

Barcelona, Newcastle, and even Manchester United have all been linked in recent months. Most prominent has been the Catalans, with compatriots Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson, and Patrik Andersson, having previously played at the Nou Camp.

It’s thought that Djurgarden are demanding €9m to sell Bergvall.

He has also spoken about his future and the speculation around him, claiming he’s in no rush to make a move just yet. "I know there's a lot of speculation, but I'm trying to focus on the national team and I'm happy to be here for the January tour.

"Now I'm a Djurgarden player. It is a pride that my club asks for so much money. But Djurgardens and my agents will take care of that. I don't know where I will play next season."