The pursuit of perfection within a football squad is a never-ending cycle of evaluation and evolution. For Liverpool, the massive midfield overhaul of 2023 was hailed as a masterstroke, successfully revitalizing a department that had grown stagnant.
However, as we approach the summer of 2026, the landscape is shifting once again. While the core trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai remain central to the club’s long-term plans with new contracts hopefully on the horizon the supporting cast is beginning to change.
The most notable shift appears to be the impending departure of Curtis Jones. As the local lad looks for a fresh start elsewhere, a vacancy has opened for a high-level rotational player, and the name Lucas Bergvall has surfaced as a fascinating solution to the puzzle.
The need for a “fourth man” in midfield cannot be overstated for a club competing on multiple fronts. Liverpool requires a player who possesses the technical quality to step in for a starter without a drop in team performance, yet has the humility and age profile to bide their time.
Bergvall, the 20-year-old Swedish international currently at Tottenham Hotspur, fits this description with remarkable precision. When he originally signed for Spurs in 2024, it was considered a major coup, as he famously turned down a move to Barcelona to test himself in the Premier League.
While his time in North London hasn’t been a fairy tale marred by injuries and the general instability of a club struggling to find its identity the raw materials that made him the most sought-after teenager in Europe are still very much present.
Statistically, critics might point to his eight goal contributions in over 70 appearances as a reason for concern. However, those numbers don’t tell the full story. Bergvall has been playing in a side that has often lacked a clear tactical direction, and his development has been stifled by the “basket case” environment at Spurs.
At Liverpool, under a more stable coaching structure and surrounded by world-class mentors, the young Swede could finally flourish as a complete all-rounder. He shares many physical and technical traits with Dominik Szoboszlai; both are tall, powerful runners with an innate ability to progress the ball through tight spaces.
Reports from Sweden suggest that Tottenham have placed a tentative £57 million price tag on their No. 15. While this is a significant investment for a player who would initially serve as a backup, it mirrors the £60 million Liverpool paid for Szoboszlai.
The difference here is that Liverpool would be buying the “potential” of a superstar rather than the finished product. In the current market, finding a player with Bergvall’s physical frame and technical ceiling for under £60 million is increasingly difficult.
If the Reds can secure him now, before his value explodes following a fully fit season, it could go down as one of the most efficient transfers in the club’s recent history.
Looking further down the line, the strategic value of this move becomes even clearer. Liverpool’s current midfield is in its prime, but by 2028, some of the senior figures like Alexis Mac Allister may be looking toward the final chapters of their European careers.
In that scenario, a 22-year-old Bergvall, fully integrated into the Liverpool system and physically matured, would be perfectly positioned to take the reins. Imagine a midfield consisting of a peak-age Gravenberch, a seasoned Szoboszlai, and a prime Bergvall potentially bolstered by other young stars like Florian Wirtz. It would be a unit designed to dominate the Premier League for the next five years.
| Midfield Profile Comparison | Curtis Jones | Lucas Bergvall |
| Physicality | Tall but slight | Tall and stocky |
| Primary Strength | Ball retention | Ball progression |
| Age (Feb 2026) | 25 | 20 |
| Market Value | £35m – £45m | £55m – £60m |
While some fans may argue that Liverpool’s primary concern should be an elite defensive ball-winner, the modern game requires every midfielder to be a “Swiss Army knife” of skills. Bergvall may not be a specialist “destroyer,” but his defensive work rate and physical presence offer a different type of protection than the more slight Curtis Jones.
Replacing a homegrown talent is never easy, especially one with the versatility of Jones, but Liverpool cannot afford to settle for anything less than elite value.
As Tottenham prepares for a season likely without European football, their need to balance the books may force their hand. For Liverpool, the opportunity to rescue a top-tier talent from a struggling rival is too good to ignore.
Bergvall isn’t just a replacement for the present; he is an insurance policy for the future. By bringing him to Anfield, Liverpool wouldn’t just be filling a gap in the squad—they would be ensuring that the “rocket ship” trajectory of their midfield continues well into the next decade.
