Journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed that the expected sale of Steven Bergwijn is a sign of Antonio Conte’s ‘growing control’ at Tottenham Hotspur.
In a recent report by football.london, the journalist revealed that the attacker is likely to join Ajax this summer – with Spurs still holding out for a fee close to the £27m they paid PSV in January 2020.
And while that deal is not quite across the line, when it does happen, Gold believes it will show just how much power Conte wields at the club.
He took to Twitter recently to say as much, writing: “His [Bergwijn’s] exit shows Conte’s growing control at Tottenham.
“From the Spurs side of things, it seems a fee has not been agreed quite yet despite reports, but it’s expected to happen sooner rather than later.”
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TIF Thoughts on Steven Bergwijn, Antonio Conte and Spurs…
Gold further expanded upon his thoughts in his article with football.london, explaining that even though Conte rates Bergwijn, as soon as he suggested he wanted to leave, Spurs signed both Richarlison and Ivan Perisic – who can both play in his left-wing role.
He also stated: “What the Italian head coach decides is key and he has green-lit a move for Bergwijn.”
Gold believes that such decisive action in the transfer market proves just how much the club are now backing their manager even if it doesn’t exactly shine a good light on signings made before Conte arrived in north London such as Bergwijn.
All in all, the winger started just four games in the Premier League last term, so it’s clear that he wasn’t a first-choice option at Spurs (via Transfermarkt). As he wasn’t fully trusted by Conte, and with the Italian happy to move Bergwijn on, Tottenham have acted swiftly to sign alternatives this summer.
It’s hard to disagree with the idea that the squad is being built just as their Italian manager would want it.