Steven Bergwijn leaving Tottenham Hotspur has been given the nod of approval by Louis van Gaal.
The Netherlands boss watched on from the touchline last night as Bergwijn dazzled in helping his country to a 4-1 victory away to Belgium in a Nations League qualifier.
Bergwijn, who hasn’t started for Tottenham since January, opened the scoring for what was his fifth goal in his last four international outings.
ESPN reported on Friday that Spurs have slapped a £21 million valuation on the player who is heavily linked with a transfer to Ajax.
And Van Gaal has said it is simply ‘unbelievable’ that Antonio Conte doesn’t use the former PSV Eindhoven winger a lot more regularly, calling on his player to join the Amsterdam giants.
He said to De Telegraaf after the victory last night: “I want him to go to Ajax as soon as possible. Tottenham don’t give him enough playing minutes and that is unbelievable when you see his qualities.”
Bergwijn clearly has match-winning abilities, evident by his cameo against Leicester City earlier this year.
The 24-year-old came off the bench to score two stoppage-time goals in a 3-2 victory at the King Power Stadium, sealing a three points that ultimately proved enormous in helping Tottenham qualify for the Champions League.
But that’s just it – they finished in the top four without Bergwijn playing a massive role.
Van Gaal can criticise Conte until he’s blue in the face, but Spurs completed their mission this past season and without Bergwijn being a major contributor, his double at Leicester notwithstanding.
Steven Bergwijn leaving Tottenham Hotspur is inevitable, but Conte isn’t necessarily to blame.
The truth is that if the player was as consistent for club as he was country then there’d be no departure on the cards whatsoever.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
