Defender Djed Spence’s future remains up in the air after his heroics for Nottingham Forest.
The Middlesbrough loanee enjoyed a standout season at the City Ground, playing a key part in the Reds’ promotion success. And the end of his spell has left head coach Steve Cooper with a void to fill ahead of the step up to the Premier League.
Spence attracted a long list of admirers with his impressive performances for Forest. A number of teams in the UK and abroad were tracking the right-back.
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According to ESPN, Tottenham Hotspur are “still leading the race”. However, the Reds, Brentford and Borussia Dortmund, among others, are said to remain keen.
Boro’s price tag is seemingly the main stumbling block over any deal, amid suggestions they value Spence at £20 million. ESPN add the player has been given another week’s holiday as transfer talks continue and is not due to report back until July 4.
Forest also have Liverpool’s Neco Williams on their radar. The 21-year-old is expected to be on the move this summer, having spent the second half of last term on loan at Fulham.
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder recently said of Spence: "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.
"If the deal doesn’t get done, we’ll see where we go from there. Have I got an 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 that’s (Spurs) 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."
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