Stewart Downing has given his verdict on Djed Spence with the Middlesbrough wing-back reportedly nearing a summer move to Tottenham.
Spurs are in talks with Boro to sign 21-year-old Spence (Evening Standard), who has been linked with a move to the Premier League after impressing on loan with Nottingham Forest last season.
The Telegraph reported on Tuesday an agreement of £15 million had been reached between both sides although the claim was disputed by Football.London, who suggested a deal is currently not close to completion.
Middlesbrough icon Downing played alongside Spence during his breakthrough into the first team in 2019 and has offered his thoughts on the proposed switch to Spurs.
The now-retired 37-year-old has claimed he immediately saw Spence had the talent when he came up against him in training for the first time and feels his style of play mirrors that of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He told iNews: “He always had the ability. When he came in at Middlesbrough he started to train with us a little bit from the U23s to the first-team.
“I was up against him quite a lot because I played on the left and he was at right-back and the first thing that stood out was that he was an athlete, he could get up and down, but he was also comfortable with the ball.
MORE SPURS STORIES
“He’s more of an attacking full-back than a defensive one. Like a Trent Alexander-Arnold type. So I can see why he has been linked to teams like Tottenham.”
On a potential move to Spurs and the Premier League, Downing added: “I think it will be a big test for him.
“Forest had a lot of the ball and their system suited him. In the Premier League, you might spend large periods without the ball so he’s going to get tested defensively.
“I think the system that Conte plays will help him defensively and he will bring his game on. It’s alright going forward and getting goals and assists but first and foremost his job is to defend and Conte is probably the best manager for him in terms of that side.
“He just needs a manager to guide him and keep him on his toes.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Getting compared to the likes of Alexander-Arnold is a big statement and should bode well for Spurs given their interest in a transfer.
It seems the fee will be around £20m which is not a bad deal in total given he is young and homegrown so, hopefully, Spurs will be able to complete a transfer in good time.
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
