Tottenham boss Antonio Conte never wanted to sign former Nottingham Forest loanee Djed Spence, according to a former Spurs player.
The attack-minded right-back was sensational for the Reds last season during his loan spell from Middlesbrough. His form attracted attention from some of the Premier League’s big-hitters, with Spurs edging out Forest in the race to sign him permanently last summer.
However, the move hasn’t worked out, with the 22-year-old making just five appearances off the bench prior to being loaned out to French side Rennes, where he is earning rave reviews for his performances in Ligue 1.
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With Conte seemingly heading out of Spurs following his extraordinary outburst against the club and players earlier this month, Spence could be set for more opportunities at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium once his loan in France comes to an end.
Pundit and ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara has claimed Conte never wanted Spence in the first place. Speaking on talkSPORT this week, he said: “I guarantee you, he [Conte] didn’t want to sign Djed Spence. He didn’t want to sign [Arnaut] Danjuma. There are players there that he has brought in, that I guarantee you that were not number one on his list.
“They were probably number two or three down on the list. I think he has gotten disillusioned with that by saying ‘I need these players [number one picks] if you want me to win trophies, then there are certain players I want that you have to go out and spend on’. Spurs haven’t done that.”
Conte himself has described Spence as a “club signing”, although separate reports have said the Italian would never have sanctioned a move for a player he didn’t want.
Would you like to see Spence back at Forest? Have your say in the comments section
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