Djed Spence is set to have a decision to make with Tottenham Hotspur one of a number of top clubs chasing his signature and the wing-back would be interested in a move to north London, football.london understands.
The 21-year-old has caught the eye of a number of clubs in the Premier League and Europe with his performances on loan from Middlesbrough at Nottingham Forest as they swept to promotion in the play-off final at the weekend. football.london understands that Spurs are one of the front runners for his signature but face competition from Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Newcastle, Brentford and Forest to sign the England U21 international in the coming weeks.
Tottenham's managing director of football Fabio Paratici has scouted Spence in person this season and with Emerson Royal expected to leave the club, with a number of La Liga clubs monitoring the Brazilian's situation, the plan would be to use Spence in tandem with the experienced Republic of Ireland international Matt Doherty in the wing-back role next season during a campaign which brings Champions League football and plenty of matches to Spurs.
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A fee of £16million has been touted for Spence, who made 45 appearances for Forest this season, scoring three goals and providing five assists. The young defender is believed to be interested in a move to work under Antonio Conte at Tottenham, who are looking to increase their homegrown numbers this summer with some British players set to depart. Spence has seen his England U21 team-mate Ryan Sessegnon flourish under the Italian in the second half of this season.
However, the young wide man is not believed to be keen to sign for a bigger club only to then head out on loan, which means the team that secures his signature this summer is expected to be the one that can offer him regular first team football across the season.
No decision on Spence's future is expected for at least another couple of weeks with the player on England U21 duty as they take on four European U21 Championship qualifying matches next month.
Sessegnon was pulled out of that squad as a precaution this week following his busy end to the season as Spurs' only fit left wing-back. The 22-year-old has had problems with hamstring injuries in recent seasons and football.london understands that the decision was taken to ensure that he is injury-free, fully rested and ready for a big pre-season under Conte in July.
