Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder has revealed that Nottingham Forest did not pursue a permanent move for loanee Djed Spence this summer.
The wing-back made a big impact at the City Ground last season, after joining on a season-long loan from Boro. He played a big part in the club’s promotion back to the Premier League after 23 years away.
His performances caught the eye of Premier League teams, with Tottenham making their move this summer. It was thought that the Reds had joined Spurs in the race, but it seems that was not the case.
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Steve Cooper has instead moved for Liverpool full-back Neco Williams, who joined the club on a permanent basis last week. Spence is now closing in on a move to Tottenham having undergone a medical after a reported fee of £12.5 million, rising to £20 million was agreed between the two clubs.
Speaking about the move, Wilder said he was happy to get it over the line. The manager also revealed that Spurs had no competition in the transfer market.
“It’s a boost for everyone. There has been far too much talk about it, but these deals just don’t happen overnight,” he told GazzetteLive .
“It’s a big number for a player that has not played for us. He had a fabulous season [at Nottingham Forest], everyone knows that.
“Tottenham were the only show in town, so they could hang out, which they have done. We needed to hang out, which we have done. Eventually, a deal has been done. Tottenham will feel they’ve got a very good deal for a young player, we feel we’ve got a great deal to get the money we’ve got for a player who has hardly played for the first-team here.
"Forest didn’t come in for him, nobody else came in for him, Tottenham were the only show in town. So that made it quite difficult for Neil [Bausor] and Steve [Gibson] to get the right number, but they did and they’re comfortable with it. As far as I’m concerned, he’s gone, I don’t have to speak about it again and we move on.”
Spence played a total of 47 times for Forest last season as part of the team to win promotion through the play-offs. He played the full 90 minutes of the final against Huddersfield at Wembley Stadium.
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