Tottenham have been very busy in the transfer market so far this summer following the additions of Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma. With more new arrivals set to follow ahead of the transfer deadline on September 1, outgoings will also be on the agenda over the next two months as Fabio Paratici looks to put together a very competitive squad for Antonio Conte.
Making quite a statement back in January with Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil departing on loan and Dele Alli permanently, all eyes will be on the exit door to see who else moves on as part of the rebuild. Having seen Cameron Carter-Vickers seal a permanent move to Celtic 11 days ago, players such as Joe Rodon, Harry Winks and Steven Bergwijn could be the next to exit following plenty of talk about moves away.
In the case of Bergwijn, the Dutch international has been heavily linked with a transfer to Ajax. Talk of a return to his homeland is nothing new, however, following speculation that he would head to the Johan Cruijff ArenA in January only for a move not to come to fruition.
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With his situation at Spurs not exactly improving since then as he played a bit-part role for the team in the final few months of the season despite his incredible stoppage-time double away at Leicester City in January, a summer exit looks incredibly likely. In fact, Bergwijn made it crystal clear at the start of June while away on international duty that he intends on leaving N17 ahead of the new season.
"Have I talked to [Ajax coach] Alfred Schreuder about my future? I'm at Oranje now and then we'll have a look. It would be nice if there was clarity soon. I just have to go play, but I want to leave Spurs now, that's for sure," he is quoted as saying by Dutch media outlet Algemeen Dagblad.
"Whether it is important that my new club plays in the Champions League? That's not even top priority. Though it would be nice. What's important is that I'm going to play."
Signed from PSV in January 2020 for £27million, Tottenham will want to recoup as much money as possible for Bergwijn when he does eventually move on and they will not sell him on the cheap. Of course Ajax will be looking to clinch the best deal they can strike with Daniel Levy and Tottenham for the 24-year-old but one side is going to have to compromise at some point to get the transfer over the line.
What could help the Dutch giants out in their quest to sign Bergwijn is a transfer windfall coming their way from the potential sale of Sebastien Haller to Borussia Dortmund. Only joining the Eredivisie club in January 2021 after such a frustrating time with West Ham, the Frenchman, who has hit 47 goals in 66 games for Ajax, is reportedly set to seal a move to Germany as Dortmund look to bolster their attack following Erling Haaland's transfer to Man City.
According to reports from SPORT1 in Germany, Dortmund's offer of €35m (£30m) which includes bonuses looks set to go through and both parties are confident the transfer will be finalised this week with the player already believed to have agreed on a five-year deal. That in turn will boost Ajax's transfer kitty in the process and could pave the way for Bergwijn to seal a return to his hometown.
With money in the bank as soon as Haller signs on the dotted line for Dortmund, Bergwijn's move to Ajax could be given the green light. However, that's all going to come down to the club offering the money Levy and Tottenham want for the talented attacker.
