Nottingham Forest are reportedly keen on beating Arsenal and Tottenham in the race to sign Djed Spence this summer.
Following their much-awaited promotion back to the English top-flight, Nottingham Forest are expected to step up their efforts to sign Djed Spence on a permanent deal, reports Sky Sports. The Middlesbrough defender is almost certain to leave the Championship club this summer, with the player set to ply his trade in the Premier League.
Arsenal and Tottenham were mainly the clubs linked with a move for Spence. The two north London clubs have been monitoring the progress of the youngster throughout the year, with an eye for a move at the end of the season. But it appears Nottingham Forest have emerged as the favourites after sealing their promotion to the Premier League.
Spence is currently back at Middlesbrough following a fruitful loan spell at Nottingham Forest. He was one of the rising stars of the 2021/22 campaign in the Championship, racking up two goals and five assists in 42 league matches and helping Forest seal a fabled return to the Premier League.
During his time at Nottingham, Spence has raised many eyebrows with his attacking output on the right flank. His ability to provide width going forward, coupled with his athleticism and pace make him an appealing target for Premier League top dogs like Arsenal and Tottenham.
Arsenal, for one, have been tracking Spence as a potential alternative for first-choice right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu. Although the Gunners have been linked with a move for Nahuel Molina, Mikel Arteta would certainly prefer Spence due to his experience in English football.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are poised to offload Emerson Royal in the summer. But Tottenham coach Antonio Conte is also not fully convinced by Matt Doherty, thus accentuating the need for a new right-back.
Djed Spence fits the bill well due to his attacking quality which could make him an ideal fit in Conte’s wing-back system. But luring the youngster to north London could be tricky due, not just for Tottenham but also for Arsenal, as the player is likely to prefer a return to Nottingham Forest and help the club impress upon their return to the top-flight.
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Spence will be guaranteed regular game-time at Nottingham Forest, which could be essential for a player of his age. However, the deal is far from complete and it will be interesting to see if Arsenal and Tottenham’s financial muscle can help the two prevent Spence from returning to Nottingham this summer.
