Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly agreed on a £20 million deal to sign Middlesbrough right-back Djed Spence.
As per a report by The Guardian, Tottenham Hotspur are close to completing their third signing of the summer transfer window. Middlesbrough’s 21-year-old right-back Djed Spence is the next player on their list, and Spurs have reportedly agreed on a deal to sign the youngster for £20 million.
Tottenham had promised Antonio Conte a sizeable war chest for the summer transfer window to convince the Italian tactician to stay, and they are seemingly delivering. The north Londoners have already signed Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster on free transfers and are reportedly set to complete another move in the form of Djed Spence.
Spence spent the last season on loan at Nottingham Forest and made 42 league appearances for them, in which he scored twice and assisted five goals. He was also named in PFA’s Championship Team of the Season for a highly successful season that saw Forest gain promotion to the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest were interested in signing the right-back permanently, but the youngster has instead chosen to join Spurs. Spence has Championship experience of over 100 games playing for both Middlesbrough and Forest, and a step up to the top-flight by joining Tottenham now seems the right step.
Tottenham currently have Emerson Royal as their first-choice right wing-back, and Spence would add much-needed depth to the position while honing his skills as per the Premier League’s requirements. Conte also used Matt Doherty and Japhet Tanganga as right wing-backs last season.
Spence’s signing will add to what has been a solid start to the summer transfer window for Tottenham. The north Londoners are currently in the market for multiple other positions, with a left-footed centre-back being a priority.
Conte has his heart set on a reunion with Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni, but the defender is not quite convinced about leaving Italy. Tottenham have identified potential options with the likes of RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol and Villarreal’s Pau Torres being monitored as well. With Spence’s signing in the bag, Conte will likely turn his full attention to addressing the central defensive issue.