Steven Bergwijn denies he refused to play for PSV amid reports of Spurs approach
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made an approach to sign PSV forward Steven Bergwijn as the Premier League club looks for cover up front.
Harry Kane, who is Jose Mourinho’s only specialist striker, tore his hamstring against Southampton on New Year’s Day, leaving Spurs with only makeshift options available to lead the line.
Will Steven Bergwijn join Spurs? Five things to know…
- Steven Bergwijn is a Dutch international who has seven senior caps for the Oranje,
- The 22-year-old has 15 goal contributions in the Eredivisie already this season.
- The forward signed a new long-term deal at PSV as recently as August 2019.
- He is widely considered to be one of the brightest prospects in Dutch football.
- Bergwijn was left out of PSV’s squad to face FC Twente on Sunday – and subsequently denied that he refused to play.
With Christian Eriksen seemingly set to leave Spurs this month and Kane out until April, Spurs are in the market for attacking reinforcements and, according to Sky Sports, have a concrete interest in Bergwijn.
PSV sit fifth in the Eredivisie this season and the prospect of playing under Mourinho in the Premier League may be an appealing one to the winger.
Bergwijn was left out of PSV’s squad on Sunday for their clash with FC Twente, perhaps suggesting that his thoughts may be elsewhere, and the youngster then took to Instagram to deny claims that he had refused to play for PSV.
In a message titled ‘the truth’, he said: “A lot was said about me, I’ve read all of it and I’m disappointed with how this went down.
“None of it is true, I never refused to play for PSV and I would never do so in the future.”
View this post on Instagram
Bergwijn began his career at Ajax, the side Spurs dramatically beat last season on their way to the Champions League final, before moving to PSV in 2011 and making his way through their youth ranks.
The forward has just six goals in his last 26 appearances for PSV, but only Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech (40) has provided more assists in the Eredivisie since the start of the 2017/18 season than Bergwijn (29).
Only Hakim Ziyech (40) has provided more assists in the Eredivisie since the start of the 2017/18 season than Steven Bergwijn (29).
And he's got 27 goals to go with it. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1yLtkqWpL1
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 26, 2020
Is Bergwijn the answer?
Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son are capable of leading the line, but Spurs do not have a specialist striker available to them at present. Given that they are still in the Champions League and FA Cup as well as the hunt for a top-four finish, it seems bizarre that they are not targeting a more like-for-like replacement for Kane, unless Mourinho is confident the Dutchman can adapt.
Of course, it is hard to attract someone will to play second fiddle to the England striker when he returns from injury (which any signing is guaranteed to do). The likes of Krzysztof Piatek, Edinson Cavani and even Christian Benteke have all been mentioned but quality strikers scarcely become available in January and Mourinho may have to make do without a traditional target man for the majority of the campaign.
However, Bergwijn would provide another much-needed option in the final third as Spurs look to close the six-point gap to the Champions League places.
