Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence could already be allowed to leave on loan, according to former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor.
The lowdown: Not Conte's signing
Recently, Spurs boss Antonio Conte admitted it wasn't his decision to sign Spence from Middlesborough, citing an 'investment' from the club as the reason behind the deal.
The 22-year-old England youth international is yet to feature competitively for Spurs, although the London-born right-back was on the bench for the last two league fixtures and has been tipped to stay put previously.
Now, one pundit has suggested that Tottenham could allow Spence to leave on loan in order to obtain regular match action...
The latest: 'I think they will...'
Speaking to Football Insider, ex-Aston Villa frontman and Sky Sports regular Agbonlahor was asked whether the Lilywhites would sanction a temporary exit for the three-cap Under 21 starlet.
He said: “I think they will. I feel that they’ve got options there with Emerson Royal and I just don’t think that Djed Spence is going to get a chance.
“There was chat that he wasn’t Conte’s signing, that Conte didn’t want to sign him. I think, if it’s the club that signed him then maybe Conte has that power where he says ‘I don’t think that I want to keep him’ and he ends up letting him go.
“It’s a shame because he would’ve come to Spurs thinking he was going to start and play every game. Sometimes when a manager doesn’t sign you you’re not going to get a chance there. He’ll want to play football as well. If he’s not going to play maybe a six-month loan would be something that would suit him.”
[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/" title="Tottenham latest developments!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align="none"]
The verdict: Spot on
Ultimately, with Royal and Matt Doherty likely to continue taking the lion's share of competitive action, Spence will be forced to take a watching brief, a time period that could hinder what has been a rapid development until now.
Last season, whilst on loan with newly promoted Nottingham Forest, the £20million man scored three times and provided five assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, proof of a player ready to have a major influence on an entire campaign.
Dubbed an 'exciting' prospect by journalist Marc Williams in March, allowing Spence to leave would certainly be the best option for all parties, particularly were the ideal top-flight club be found in order to further enhance the marauding full-back's already upwards career trajectory.