Cost £8.5m, now worth 111% more: Spurs struck gold on "uber-complete" star

At least domestically, the rest of this campaign for Tottenham Hotspur has to be focused on getting the team to the best place possible for the start of next season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have been blindsided by an enormous number of injuries this year, and while that has had a serious impact on their results, there is at least one positive.

The lack of options has seen the manager turn to the club’s tremendously exciting youngsters far more than fans would have predicted in the summer.

Moreover, they haven’t just made up the numbers but have helped improve the side, with one prospect doing so well that his valuation has more than doubled.

Spurs’ most exciting youngsters

So, when it comes to the club’s young talent this season, there is one player who has probably received the most attention: Archie Gray.

The former Leeds United gem joined the club in the summer for around £30m, so there were some hefty expectations placed upon him, but so far, it would be fair to say he’s more than met them.

For example, even though he is still 18 years old and primarily a central midfielder, the Durham-born dynamo has had to deputise across the backline this term, excelling at full-back and centre-back.

So far, the tremendously promising phenom has made 18 appearances at centre-back, seven at right-back, five at left-back, and two in defensive midfield, and it looks like he could eventually fulfil analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s a “future £100m” star.

Amazingly, there is an even younger player who has caught the eye for the North Londoners this season: Mikey Moore.

The academy product has been limited to just 16 first-team appearances this term, but he’s already scored one goal, picked up two assists and left a serious impression on his senior teammates.

For example, following his eye-catching display against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, James Maddison described the 17-year-old as “fearless” and like “Neymar on the left wing” – high praise indeed.

There is another teenage sensation within the first team, though, someone who is already worth more than double what he cost the club a year ago.

The Spurs youngster whose value has soared

While arguments could be made about including the likes of Wilson Odobert and Pape Matar Sarr in discussions about the club’s youngsters, we are talking specifically about those who aren’t even 20 yet, like Lucas Bergvall.

The 19-year-old Swede signed for Tottenham for around £8.5m last winter but did not officially join the squad until the summer.

However, while he’s still incredibly new to English football, the former Djurgårdens ace has taken to it like a duck to water and is already a key member of the first team.

In fact, the “uber-complete” talent, as dubbed by Mattinson, has been so impressive for the Lilywhites that, according to Football Transfers, he is now worth up to €21.7m, which comes out to about £18m.

That means the Stockholm-born dynamo is already worth 111% more than Daniel Levy and Co paid for him, which, based on his growing importance to the club, seems about right.

For example, he has already made 34 appearances under Postecoglou this season, scoring one goal and providing three assists.

On top of that, FBref have placed him in the top 3% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for tackles in the attacking third, the top 6% for long pass completion and successful take-ons and the top 8% for tackles and interceptions, all per 90.

Ultimately, in Bergvall, Spurs have struck gold, as he is way ahead of where you’d expect a 19-year-old midfielder to be, and his skyrocketing valuation is just more confirmation of his incredible talent.

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