---
title: "Tottenham: Chris Wilder drops Djed Spence claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/djed-spence-tottenham-hotspur-spurs-chris-wilder-middlesbrough-transfer-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Premier League News"
published: "2022-07-03T19:05:13Z"
modified: "2022-07-03T19:05:13Z"
---

# Tottenham: Chris Wilder drops Djed Spence claim

**[Tottenham Hotspur](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-news/) are still trying to sign Middlesbrough right-back Djed Spence this summer, and the Teesside club’s manager Chris Wilder has now dropped an update on the potential transfer.**

### **The Lowdown: Stumbling block**

According to [football.london](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/transfer-news/djed-spence-tottenham-transfer-update-24382861), Spurs’ managing director Fabio Paratici is keen to push through and make a deal with the [Championship](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/championship-news/) outfit for the 21-year-old, who enjoyed a fantastic breakout season whilst on loan at Nottingham Forest.

However, it is reported that coming to an agreement on a transfer fee has proven to be the [stumbling block](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/transfer-news/djed-spence-tottenham-transfer-update-24382861) in negotiations, with Middlesbrough demanding an initial £15m with further add-ons, an arrangement to which which the Lilywhites are reluctant to agree (via [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10950259/Tottenhams-Djed-Spence-hits-snag-Middlesbrough-asking-15m-plus-add-ons.html)).

### **The Latest: Wilder’s comments**

Wilder has now commented on Spence’s potential move to Spurs, stating that the transfer is ‘taking its time’, but Middlesbrough are hopeful that it will come to a ‘quick conclusion’.

As reported by [The Northern Echo](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20252076.middlesbrough-chris-wilder-discusses-possible-contract-offer-tommy-smith/) (via [football.london](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/transfer-news/djed-spence-tottenham-transfer-update-24382861)), Wilder claimed: “Hopefully, it will come to a quick conclusion because that would help everybody. That’s the way we’d like it to be, although the situation isn’t always straightforward.

“It is taking its time, but hopefully, it can get sorted. If not, then as I’ve said all along, Djed comes back to us.”

[Tottenham latest developments!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/)

### **The Verdict: Worth the wait**

At just 21 years of age, Spence inevitably has a long-term future at the top of the game.

Pundit and former Premier League striker Ian Wright couldn’t praise the youngster enough, having [proclaimed](https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/djed-spence-manchester-united-linked-compared-alexander/blt6dc2e1c1de2dc6bb): “If we are talking about right-backs performing at an unbelievable level, we’re talking about Reece James and Trent, but I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”397976″\]

With Antonio Conte looking to add a right-back to his squad to challenge Matt Doherty for the starting spot, Spence would appear to be an ideal candidate. The 21-year-old averaged [1.5 interceptions](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/362219/Show/Djed-Spence) per game last season, level with [Spurs’ best performer](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/30/Show/England-Tottenham) for that metric, while he also showed a willingness to take on opponents by completing [1.7 dribbles](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/362219/Show/Djed-Spence) per game, better than [anyone in Conte’s squad](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/30/Show/England-Tottenham) in 2021/22.

Therefore, for Tottenham, this is a prospective transfer worth a degree of compromise if that’s what it takes to get over the impasse in negotiations.