Djed Spence Set for Tottenham Exit as Inter Milan Prepare Offer
Djed Spence is moving closer to the exit at Tottenham, with Inter Milan positioning themselves to strike a deal for the England full-back this summer.
The Serie A club are preparing an offer in the region of £25.6million and Spence is ready to listen, with the defender increasingly open to a fresh start away from north London.
His timing is no accident. After an eye-catching World Cup, where his performances pushed his reputation to a new level, Spence wants to turn that momentum into guaranteed minutes. At 26, he knows these are the years that will define his career.
Inside Spurs, there is an acceptance of that reality. Roberto De Zerbi admires Spence and his qualities, but he has been clear: he cannot promise the game time the right-back craves and will not block a move if the player decides to go.
The problem for Spence is obvious. Pedro Porro, a World Cup winner and now tied down to a new long-term contract signed in June, stands in his way at right-back. Spence can cover on the left, but he sees himself as a right-back first and believes his World Cup form has earned him the right to fight for that role on a weekly basis.
De Zerbi understands the frustration. He knows Spence, once a standout at Middlesbrough, wants to be a nailed-on starter as he heads into what should be the peak of his career, not a rotational option waiting behind Porro.
From a football perspective, Spurs would rather not sell. Only four weeks ago, Spence was being praised for his display in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, a performance that seemed to cement his status on the biggest stage.
But the realities of the market and the player’s ambition are pushing all sides towards the same conclusion. Spence wants to play regularly. Spurs want to be more decisive and efficient in the transfer market, maximising value on outgoing players. A deal with Inter Milan ticks a lot of boxes.
Tottenham also neatly avoid strengthening a direct Premier League rival after only fielding tentative interest from Liverpool. Inter, for their part, see Spence as the straight replacement for Denzel Dumfries following his move to Real Madrid.
The proposed fee feels low given Spence’s current stock and recent World Cup exposure. Yet the lack of a bidding war leaves Spurs with limited leverage. They are realistic about what they can demand for a player who, for all his talent, has struggled to deliver consistent top-level performances across his time at the club.
Whether Spurs move for a direct replacement remains to be seen. De Zerbi has made it clear the club are not finished in the transfer market, but there is no guarantee that money from a Spence sale will immediately go back into the same position.
What is clear is the wider message. Letting Spence go would underline a shift in strategy at Tottenham — a club that, by its own admission, has too often failed to secure fair market value when players walk out the door. Now they are determined not to repeat those mistakes, even if it means cashing in on a World Cup standout sooner than many expected.
