Djed Spence’s former teammate suggests he should join Spurs over Arsenal

Steward Downing has claimed that Djed Spence would fit in better at Tottenham than Arsenal due to the formation that Antonio Conte’s men employ.

Tottenham are reportedly in the market for a new right wing-back this summer, with Emerson Royal expected to depart after just 12 months at the North London club (The Sun).

Spence, who has enjoyed an impressive campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest from Middlesbrough, is thought to be on the options on the club’s radar, with the Lilywhites reportedly having an offer rejected for the 21-year-old in January (90min).

The Sunday Mirror (3/4; page 71) claimed at the start of April that Spence is bound for either Spurs or Arsenal in the summer while it emerged recently that Brentford are also plotting a move for the youngster (Sun).

According to The Evening Standard, Boro are resigned to losing the England Under-21 international for a cut-price fee of just around £12m, however, the Gazzette Live report he is under contract until 2024.

Downing, who was on the Middlesbrough books at the same time as Spence in 2019, believes the youngster could thrive as a right wing-back in Conte’s system.

When asked about the speculation over the youngster’s future, the former Boro star told The Mirror: “I like the way Spurs play with a wing-back system, I know they’re quite defensive but I think Conte likes the wing-backs to go up and down – that suits his (Spence’s) game.

“I’m not sure about Arsenal, I think he would have to do another level. For Brentford, the way they play, I think that could suit him.

“So it wouldn’t surprise me if someone from the Premier League did take a chance on him, because if they get him in for £10m which is probably not a lot of money in today’s game, you know, I think that could be good business for someone.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The fact that Spurs have issues with the number of foreign-trained players means that the club will have to do some of their shopping in the domestic market this summer.

Spence fits the bill for what we need at right wing-back and the fact that the youngster is not likely to cost too much makes the deal a no-brainer for the Lilywhites.

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