Pundit claims ‘politics’ might be behind Tottenham player’s omission by Conte 

Perry Groves has suggested that internal politics at Tottenham could be the reason that Antonio Conte is not willing to hand opportunities to Djed Spence.

Spence has not started a single game for Spurs since his summer switch from Middlesbrough (Transfermarkt) and some reports over recent weeks have suggested that the right-back could be loaned out by the north London club in the January window (The Times).

According to ESPN‘s recent update, a number of Premier League and Championship clubs have expressed interest in signing the 22-year-old next month.

However, Alasdair Gold said on his YouTube channel earlier this month there has been no indication from anyone at Tottenham to the England Under-21 international’s entourage that they are planning on loaning him out.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Spence but Conte is reported to be extremely keen on signing an elite right wing-back in January (The Athletic).

Groves has opined that Spence would be perfect for Conte’s system and expressed bewilderment at the right-back’s treatment.

The former Arenal winger told talkSPORT: “He [Conte] can’t make up his mind in the wing-back positions – who’s going to be his first-choice wing-backs. It was Ivan Perisic and Matt Doherty against Brentford. In the past, they’ve had Emerson Royal play and Ryan Sessegnon.

“It’s been strange that Djed Spence hasn’t had his chance because he’s perfect for the way Spurs play. There might be a bit of politics there where the reports are that he isn’t an Antonio Conte signing, which I can’t believe myself because he wouldn’t have players come into the club without him saying so, so it’s a bit of a strange one.”

Djed Spence
(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Spurs Web Opinion

There could well be a bit of a political angle to Conte’s unwillingness to starr Spence as the right-back was clearly a Paratici signing rather than someone that the Spurs boss requested. However, we do not get to watch the 22-year-old train on a regular basis, and thus need to trust the judgement of Conte and his coaching staff.

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