Conte tipped to overrule Tottenham by shifting new signing he ‘didn’t want’, with no chances coming
Tottenham could loan out Djed Spence because his chances of game time look slim amid talk of the real motives for his signing, one pundit has said.
Spurs signed the 22-year-old full-back from Middlesbrough this summer following his impressive loan spell at Nottingham Forest. He helped Steve Cooper’s side to promotion via the Championship play-offs, playing 45 league games.
And after protracted transfer talks, Tottenham snapped him up on a five-year deal worth a potential £20million.
However, Spence has yet to play for manager Antonio Conte. He remained an unused substitute for the opening Premier League game of the season against Southampton. After that, he did not make the squad against Chelsea or Wolves.
Earlier this summer, reports claimed that one of the big motivations for Tottenham signing him was to add to their quota of English players.
Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor therefore thinks Conte could overrule his superiors by asking Spence to spend six months out on loan.
“I think they will [loan him out],” Agbonlahor told Football Insider. “I feel that they’ve got options there with Emerson Royal and I just don’t think that Djed Spence is going to get a chance.
“There was chat that he wasn’t Conte’s signing, that Conte didn’t want to sign him.
“I think, if it’s the club that signed him then maybe Conte has that power where he says ‘I don’t think that I want to keep him’ and he ends up letting him go.
“It’s a shame because he would’ve come to Spurs thinking he was going to start and play every game.
“Sometimes when a manager doesn’t sign you you’re not going to get a chance there. He’ll want to play football as well. If he’s not going to play maybe a six month loan would be something that would suit him.”
Spence unlikely to leave Tottenham
Despite the immediate talk about Spence’s future at Tottenham, it looks unlikely that Conte will let him leave.
Yes, he has not made the squad for the past two Premier League games, but Conte knows the importance of squad depth.
He won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017 and knows he needs back-up options who are ready to perform.
Despite not playing, Spence will no doubt be working hard in training and will be ready to make his mark when his chance comes.
Spurs have Champions League and Carabao Cup duties to contend with soon, too. Given Spurs’ strong league start without Spence, the England Under-21 star may have his eyes on substitute appearances and starts in the other respective competitions.
