Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League • England

Tottenham finally poised to get £20m Djed Spence deal signed off before pre-season tour

Djed Spence Forest May 2022

Tottenham Hotspur are finally set to wrap up the capture of Djed Spence with the Middlesbrough man pencilled in for the pre-season trip to Asia.

Spurs have been in transfer negotiations with the Championship side since last month. Now though The Telegraph report a deal is close between the two clubs.

Tottenham are close to an agreement in principle for the Nottingham Forest loan star that will see them pay £15m up front, with a further £5m in add-ons.

Boro are understood to have turned down offers of £10m and £11m. The 21-year-old full-back could well become Boro’s largest ever export, eclipsing the £18m paid by Wolves to sign Adama Traore in August 2018.

Spence had been earmarked as a top target for Spurs after his enterprising performances on loan at Forest. The Londoner moved to Forest last August in the hunt for first-team football.

Isaiah Jones was blocking Spence’s run of games at Boro and Spence decided a move was the best career move. And he has been proved correct after playing 42 times in Forest’s promotion season.

Spence wanted the ‘best team’

The attacking wing-back managed two goals and five assists and he said March he was aiming for the top flight.

Spence said: “I always want to push myself and play with the best players and best team.

“Of course, it’s an ambition of mine to play in the Premier League. I try to stay level-headed. I don’t read too much into it. At the end of the day, I’m just here to enjoy my football. I need to stay focused, have tunnel vision and play well on the pitch.”

Forest did try and keep Spence, but it soon became apparent that interest from Spurs would trump their hopes.

Spence is expected to become another piece in Antonio Conte’s summer transfer plans “before this weekend”.

Tottenham have already completed the capture of Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic and back-up keeper Fraser Forster.