Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder believes Tottenham will manage to complete a deal to sign Djed Spence, but is expecting the defender to report for pre-season if the move has not been agreed by that point.
Spence had a stellar campaign last season as he helped Nottingham Forest secure promotion to the Premier League during his loan spell in the Midlands.
He has since attracted plenty of attention, with Spurs thought to be very keen on sealing a transfer for the England U21 international (Evening Standard).
Sky Sports reported Spurs and Middlesbrough currently remain apart in their valuations of the wing-back, with Tottenham wanting to pay around £10m, while Boro demand £15m plus add-ons.
Middlesbrough boss Wilder has now weighed in on Spence’s situation and while he believes a switch to Tottenham will eventually happen, he is expecting him back in the northwest for pre-season training if a deal does not go through by then.
Wilder told The Northern Echo: “If nothing happens with Djed, then he’s our player, and he’ll be back for pre-season.
“From my point of view, negotiations between Kieran (Scott), Neil (Bausor), Steve (Gibson) and Tottenham stay between Kieran, Neil, Steve and Tottenham.
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“If the deal doesn’t get done, we’ll see where we go from there. Have I got input into it? Yeah, 100 per cent.
“The boy obviously doesn’t want to come back here, which I’ve got absolutely no issue with. He obviously sees his future away from here, and he had a brilliant season last season.
“We’re expecting that deal to happen, but if it doesn’t, then he’s our player. From a club point of view, the deal has to be right. We’re not trying to stand in the way of anybody.
“I’ve never done that as a manager, and I’ve had plenty of situations before where opportunities have come along to players.
“But there’s always three parties involved in any deal, and it’s got to be right for all three parties for it to happen. It’s got to be right for the player, and obviously, from the noises, it sounds as though [Spurs] is where he wants to go.
“Tottenham want him, and we’re prepared for that, but it’s got to be right for us too. It all needs to marry up.”
Wilder also defended his side’s stance of standing firm with their valuation of Spence and insisted Middlesbrough will not be afraid to ‘walk away’ from a potential deal if it does not suit them.
He added: “We’re a reasonable football club, but some of the numbers you sometimes get quoted are ridiculous, and we’re not going to allow anyone to take advantage of us.
“We got quoted £20-25m for a forward playing in the Championship recently, but we didn’t think that was a fair number.
“We’re prepared to pay fair numbers, as we always have done, but we’re not going to be silly, and we’re certainly not going to be giving our players away for a fee we don’t think is right. Ultimately, Djed’s our player.
“We’re not reliant on getting in money for Djed Spence. Although obviously, it would help. We’re certainly not in a position where we’re having to wait to see what happens with Djed before we can get other things done.
“I spoke to the chairman, and Steve is ambitious and excited about the future. The good thing about Steve is that he knows the club have to do their absolute maximum to support a push to be in and around the top of the division.
“That means getting the right players in, although it also has to be at the right value too. We’ll walk away from deals if they’re not right for us.”
Spurs Web Opinion
On the face of it, the deal seems like a simple one but both Spurs and Middlesbrough are not too keen to budge on their valuations.
It is tough as he is a Boro player and they can set the price they feel is right, but equally the buying club can try to negotiate a lower fee, or even walk away from the table if they are not keen at all.
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