Roberto De Zerbi has conveyed a very clear message to Djed Spence about his future as the full-back continues to be linked with a move away from Tottenham Hotspur.
Reports indicate Spence’s game time is expected to be limited next season if he stays at Spurs, which is why the Lilywhites are willing to cash in on the player at the right price.
It has been suggested that the 25-year-old Tottenham star is pushing for a move, and although the North Londoners are not actively looking to move him on, they are ready to accept any big offer that comes in for the player.
Several big Premier League clubs are allegedly eyeing a move for Spence, which is not surprising on the back of his outstanding performances for England at the World Cup.
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi reiterates Lucas Bergvall message to Djed Spence
De Zerbi has already said that he will not stop Lucas Bergvall from leaving, making it clear that he cannot offer the guarantees of starts that the Swede is looking for.
The Italian has now repeated the same message to Spence, explaining that while he would like to keep the England international at the club, he will not try to convince the defender to stay.
When asked about Spence’s future, De Zerbi told Football.London: “What I say to you, is the same I said to Djed and to Lucas – ‘I would like you to stay’. Not ‘I want you to stay’. ‘I would like you to stay if you want to stay. If you don’t want to stay, if you want to leave, you have to leave’. If you want to leave, speak with Vinai [Venkatesham] and Johan, because I don’t manage the price, the sale.
“I can speak with Vinai and Johan about the best strategy, but I don’t decide £30m, £40m, that’s not my position, and I don’t want to change my position. It’s tough enough to be a coach, and I want to stay as a coach.”
De Zerbi does not want any unmotivated players at Spurs
The Tottenham boss explained that he wants every player to have a clear idea about his plans so that they are not upset due to a lack of game time once the campaign gets underway.
De Zerbi seemed to suggest that this is a mistake the Lilywhites have made in the past, and added that he has no desire to repeat those.
The 46-year-old added: “I respected the player’s ideas and opinions or projects. But if they stay, they have to stay following my rules, decisions on the pitch.
“After two games, three games, if one player is not playing and he starts to be sad or not correct with the other players, the coaches, staff, the club, we would make a big, big mistake because we didn’t learn from the past season.”