An update has emerged on Tottenham's plans to sign Djed Spence during the summer transfer window...
What's the talk?
According to the Northern Echo, Middlesbrough are expecting contact from Spurs at some point over a deal for the defender as Fabio Paratici plots talks to snap him up from the Championship side.
The report claims that an inquiry was made at the start of the summer and that the Premier League team are now delaying before entering negotiations in a possible attempt to drive the price down.
It is stated that Boro want £20m for the right-back and are prepared to keep him as a member of their squad next season if Spurs refuse to meet their asking price.
The news comes with Spurs now on the verge of signing Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma for a fee of £30m as Tottenham ramp up their summer business.
Antonio Conte would love him
The Tottenham head coach would love to have Spence at the club next season as he would be an exciting wing-back option to call upon alongside Bissouma in the middle of the park.
He is a young prospect with the scope to develop in the future and also has the potential to make an immediate impact on the side if he is able to handle the step up to the Premier League.
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The 21-year-old spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan to Nottingham Forest and played a key role in their promotion to the top-flight as they beat Huddersfield 1-0 in the play-off final.
He impressed enough to earn praise from former Premier League striker Ian Wright, with the retired forward 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."
The wing-back was excellent throughout the season as he made 42 appearances in the Championship for Forest. He showcased his ability to make an impact in the final third with two goals and four assists - creating six 'big chances' - and this suggests that he would be perfect for Conte.
His attacking quality would provide a real threat on the overlap ahead of Dejan Kulusevski and force opposition defenders to be wary of his movement. This would then open up space for the Juventus loanee to cut inside and do damage on his left foot if he opts against playing the ball to the Englishman.
Therefore, Conte would love to have the young prospect as part of his squad next season as he can be a useful option in the immediate future and has the potential - at the age of 21 - to improve over the next few years.