An update has emerged on Tottenham and their pursuit of Djed Spence in the summer transfer window...
What's the talk?
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Spurs are set to enter negotiations with Middlesbrough over a deal for the full-back later this month.
The Italian reporter has also stressed that Fabio Paratici has prioritised two positions after landing Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma already this summer.
He Tweeted: "Djed Spence deal. No negotiations this weekend, Tottenham are really interested since March but still no official bid, new direct contacts expected next week. Right back* and centre back, two priority for Spurs on the market."
Antonio Conte will be delighted
The Italian head coach will be delighted with this news for multiple reasons.
Firstly, he will be buzzing with Paratici's prospective swoop to sign Spence as the defender is a promising young talent with the potential to make an impact in the first-team at wing-back next season.
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Ex-Premier League forward Ian Wright compared him to some of the best full-backs in the top-flight last season, saying: "If we are talking about right-backs performing at an unbelievable level, we're talking about Reece James and Trent, but I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time.
"I said to him, in all seriousness, 'That level we saw there? You should be in the Premier League.' Simple as that."
In the Championship, the 21-year-old chipped in with two goals and four assists in 42 starts on loan at Nottingham Forest - creating six 'big chances' for his teammates in total. This shows that he has the attacking quality to burst forward from defence to make an impact in the final third, which suggests that he would suit a wing-back role in Conte's 3-4-3 system.
Therefore, the Italian manager will be delighted by the prospect of having the England U21 international available to him next season.
The head coach will also be pleased by this update from Romano as it shows that Paratici is hard at work and looking to get all of the club's business done early. Despite signing three players already, the Spurs chief is prioritising other areas and plotting moves to improve the team.
This will leave Conte delighted as it will, hopefully, give him plenty of time in pre-season to bed players in and get them ready for the 2022/23 campaign.