Tottenham Hotspur are ready to sanction the sale of Djed Spence for a cut-price fee amid growing interest from Inter Milan, according to reports. The Serie A giants are said to be preparing an offer worth approximately £25.6million for the 26-year-old right-back, whose stock has risen sharply following an eye-catching World Cup campaign with England.
Spence, who impressed many observers with his performance in England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, is understood to be open to a move away from north London as he looks to secure regular first-team football. Despite his heightened profile, he remains second-choice at Spurs, primarily operating behind the club's preferred options at right-back.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi is reported to hold Spence in good regard but has acknowledged that he cannot promise the former Middlesbrough defender the consistent minutes he is seeking. The Italian is said to have made clear he will not block a potential exit if Spence decides the time is right to move on and pursue a starting role elsewhere.
Although capable of filling in at left-back, Spence's stated preference is to play on the right side of defence, a position he feels he has staked a strong claim to given his displays for the Three Lions in Qatar. With his career entering what many would consider its peak years, the defender is understood to be prioritising regular game time over remaining a squad option at Tottenham.
Inter Milan's interest comes at a convenient time for both club and player. The Italian side are searching for a replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who has departed for Real Madrid, and view Spence as a like-for-like option to fill that void on the right flank. For Tottenham, sanctioning a move to Serie A also means avoiding strengthening a direct Premier League rival — Liverpool had reportedly shown tentative interest in the defender, but a deal with an English club was seen as less desirable from Spurs' perspective.
The proposed fee, while relatively modest considering Spence's recent surge in reputation, reflects the reality of his situation at Tottenham. Sources close to the club suggest that, absent stronger competition from other suitors, Spurs are being pragmatic about what they can realistically achieve in the transfer market for a player who has not consistently delivered at the top level during his time at the club.
It remains unclear whether Tottenham would move to sign a direct replacement for Spence should the Inter deal materialise, though De Zerbi has previously indicated that the club's business in the transfer window is not yet complete.
The willingness to let Spence go for a below-market fee also speaks to a broader shift in Tottenham's approach to player sales. The north London club have often been criticised in the past for failing to extract full value from departing players, and this potential deal suggests a more pragmatic, forward-looking strategy — prioritising a clean exit and squad harmony over holding out for a maximum fee.
With talks reportedly progressing, both parties appear to see the move as mutually beneficial: Inter gain a versatile, in-form full-back at a reasonable price, while Tottenham offload a player who, despite his World Cup exploits, has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot in a competitive Spurs squad.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.