Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear that any Tottenham player who is unhappy at the club this summer should look for a move elsewhere, insisting he only wants fully committed players in his squad.
The Italian manager, who took charge of Spurs at the end of March and helped the club avoid Premier League relegation last season, made his comments ahead of Sunday's pre-season friendly against Auckland FC in New Zealand as uncertainty continues over Lucas Bergvall's future.
Roberto De Zerbi addresses Lucas Bergvall's future
De Zerbi said he wants players who are proud and motivated to represent Tottenham, stressing that anyone unwilling to stay should leave the club.
His comments come after Tottenham rejected an initial £38 million bid from Nottingham Forest for Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall. Forest is now expected to improve their offer to £45 million.
The Spurs manager revealed he has not yet spoken with Bergvall but plans to do so in the coming days. He described the 20-year-old as a "big, big talent" and said the club will make the best decision for everyone involved.
Bergvall joined Tottenham from Djurgarden in 2024 and featured only sparingly under De Zerbi after starting the Italian's first match in charge before making four substitute appearances.
Tottenham's transfer plans continue to evolve
De Zerbi believes Tottenham's business in the transfer market is not complete and confirmed the club is still targeting reinforcements in attack.
Spurs have already strengthened their squad by signing midfielders Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United in a £100 million deal and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85 million.
The club has also added defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi, while De Zerbi said another couple of signings could still arrive before the transfer window closes.
Competition for places is expected to increase, with the manager stating that he wants two players available for every position.
Tottenham injury update on Kudus and Kulusevski
Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski did not travel with the squad to New Zealand as they continue recovering from long-term injuries.
According to De Zerbi, Kudus is close to returning and should be available to resume training when the team returns to London.
Kulusevski's recovery will require further assessment over the next few weeks, with the manager stressing that the club will avoid taking unnecessary risks before bringing the midfielder back into action.
Xavi Simons recalls difficult ACL recovery
Tottenham attacking midfielder Xavi Simons also reflected on the serious anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in April, which required surgery and ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup.
The Netherlands international described the first four days after the injury as the worst of his life, saying he could not sleep or eat for a week and experienced severe pain, vomiting, and dizziness.
Although the rehabilitation has been challenging, Simons said he is now happy and in a much better place as he continues his recovery.