Steven Bergwijn announces desire to leave Tottenham Hotspur

The Lilywhites forked out £27m to bring the Netherlands international to the club from PSV Eindhoven in January 2020, and he has gone on to make 83 appearances in all tournaments.

Bergwijn has scored eight goals and provided 10 assists for the Lilywhites in that time, but he has failed to break back into the starting XI under Antonio Conte.

The 24-year-old finished the 2021-22 season with four goals and two assists from 32 appearances continentally and domestically, including a dramatic late double in a 3-2 win at Leicester City in January.

However, Bergwijn only started a measly four Premier League games last term, with the arrival and strong form of Dejan Kulusevski severely limiting his opportunities on the right-hand side.

Bergwijn has been strongly linked with a move away from Tottenham amid his struggles for starts, and the attacker has now admitted that an exit would be the best option amid interest from Ajax.

"Have I talked to Alfred Schreuder about my future? I'm at Oranje now and then we'll have a look," Bergwijn told Dutch outlet AD while on international duty.

"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. 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.

"I wasn't allowed to leave Spurs in the winter and then I didn't have any problems. The last few months I was hardly looked after there. Now I want to play somewhere weekly."

When asked if a return to his homeland with Ajax was a viable option, Bergwijn responded: "That could be, yes. It's about my situation now, that has to be different."

In spite of his bit-part role at Tottenham, Bergwijn remains in strong form for the Netherlands and scored for the fourth international game in a row during Friday's 4-1 rout of Belgium in the Nations League.

However, Oranje head coach Louis van Gaal has urged the attacker to take up the opportunity to sign for Ajax, claiming that his lack of game time at Tottenham is "unbelievable".

"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," Van Gaal told reporters on Friday night.

Ajax have reportedly already seen a £15m bid for Bergwijn rejected by Spurs, who are holding out for a fee of £21.4m to part ways with the former PSV man.

Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in Bergwijn, who recently opened the door to playing under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.