Tottenham closing in on £15 million move for Championship full-back

Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to a £15 million move for Middlesbrough full-back Djed Spence, as per reports.

According to The Express, Antonio Conte’s side are currently leading Nottingham Forest, who Spence spent last season on loan with, for the 21-year-old’s signature.

Spence played an integral role in Forest’s promotion winning campaign, featuring 39 times in the Championship as Steve Cooper’s side triumphed in the play-offs to return to the top flight for the first time in more than two decades.

Spurs boss Conte has already added Croatian wing-back Ivan Perisic to his Spurs squad, but is targeting the Englishman as he looks to bolster his squad ahead of a busy season that will include Champions League football.

The report claims that Spurs’ managing director of football Fabio Paratici travelled to watch Spence in Forest’s 4-0 victory over Leicester City in the FA Cup in February, in which the youngster scored and put in an impressive performance against top flight opposition.

Spence was one of the Championship’s standout performers last season

It is also claimed that Spurs had two bids for the player rejected during the January transfer window, but are now confident of luring the player to the capital.

Forest were hopeful of landing the player, who had admitted that he was open to a return, but they are also aware that Spurs have the lure of Champions League football and are therefore effectively resigned to having missed out on the player.

Spurs will have to pay around £15 million for Spence but Conte is open to the idea of letting Emerson Royal, who joined the club less than 12 months ago from Barcelona, leave if an offer is made.