Antonio Conte is on course to land his fifth signing of the transfer window after long-time Tottenham target Djed Spence was left at home for Middlesbrough's pre-season camp in Portugal.
Boro wing-back Spence, who helped Nottingham Forest to promotion on loan at the City Ground last season, has been on Spurs head coach Conte's shopping list all summer. And although the Teessiders have been playing hard-ball over the asking price – Boro want £20 million, while Tottenham's opening gambit was £10m plus add-ons – there does not seem to be much doubt that the north London club will land their prey.
Conte has already brought in Fraser Forster and Ivan Perisic on free transfers, Yves Bissouma for £25 million and Clement Lenglet on a season-long loan from Barcelona. Now they are closing in on Spence, who was left out of Boro's squad for the friendly against National League York and did not travel with the squad to Portgual.
