Southampton are interested in completing a loan deal for Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spence profiled

The Premier League right-back made the big-money move to N17 from Middlesbrough last summer after impressing during his season-long loan at Nottingham Forest.

However, the 22-year-old is yet to have made an impression on the first team and is out of favour under Antonio Conte, having made zero league starts and just four substitute appearances so far this season (WhoScored).

Spurs being in negotiations to sign Sporting CP's Pedro Porro means that the former Boro star will be pushed even further out of the senior picture, and there’s a chance that he could be on his way to St. Mary’s.

The Latest: Southampton eyeing Spence

According to 90min, Southampton, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are all ‘interested in a deal’ to take Spence on loan for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.

Championship league leaders Burnley would also be ‘keen’, whilst Michael Carrick’s side would be ‘open to bringing him back’ to the Riverside, though a return there ‘looks unlikely’.

Tottenham are ‘open’ to sanctioning a temporary exit for the full-back this month to help him get some regular minutes under his belt.

The Verdict: Exciting signing

Spence has been described as ‘swashbuckling’ by footballing legend Ian Wright, and looking at his numbers during his time at Forest, he would be a hugely exciting signing for Nathan Jones.

The England U21s international clocked up eight goal contributions (five assists and three goals) under Steve Cooper and currently ranks in the 98th percentile for dribbles completed per 90 minutes by a full-back.

Spence helped Forest gain promotion to the top flight so will know what it takes to achieve success, and with the Saints rock bottom of the table, a winning mentality is exactly what they need to bring into the building.