Lucas Bergvall was substituted in the 69th minute of the playoff final against Poland, and his performance was praised for contributing to the decisive goal. Sweden's win, which ended 3-2, was sealed by Viktor Gyökeres's late strike in the 88th minute, securing the team's World Cup berth. Bergvall's rising profile has drawn attention from top European clubs, with his performances in league play and for the national team over the past year making him a target for major teams.
Chelsea and Aston Villa were prepared to pay over half a billion kronor for Bergvall in the winter transfer window, according to multiple reports. However, Tottenham Hotspur, Bergvall's club, flatly refused to initiate any negotiations regarding the Swede, despite interest from both clubs. Tottenham is currently fighting to avoid relegation to the Championship, and Bergvall has been injured at times, limiting his contributions during a period when the team fired coach Igor Tudor and incurred losses on a running basis.
The exact amount over half a billion kronor that Chelsea and Aston Villa were prepared to pay remains unspecified, as do the terms of their proposed buyout offers. Tottenham has not publicly justified their refusal to negotiate for Bergvall, and the current status of his injury and expected return to play is unclear. It is unknown whether other clubs besides Chelsea and Aston Villa are currently interested in Bergvall.