Djed Spence’s Tottenham future is once again in the spotlight, with Inter Milan returning to the negotiating table over a possible deal for the England international before the summer window shuts.
The Serie A champions had previously shown interest in the versatile defender and have now reopened talks with Spurs in the hope of striking an agreement that would take him to Italy. The timing is notable given the form Spence showed on the international stage, featuring in all seven of England’s matches at the World Cup in North America and starting four of them as the Three Lions finished third. Despite that exposure, his club situation remains unsettled — Pedro Porro continues to hold the edge in the battle for the right-back spot, and that lack of guaranteed game time has fuelled uncertainty over his long-term role at the club.
Although Spence put pen to paper on a new deal last summer, Tottenham are said to be willing to listen to offers as Roberto De Zerbi continues reshaping his squad following an outlay of more than £200 million on new arrivals. With spending on that scale, generating funds through sales has become a priority, and Spence’s rising profile after the World Cup makes him one of the more marketable names available. Tottenham had initially set their asking price at around €50 million (roughly £42.7 million), a figure well above what Inter were originally willing to pay — but the Italians have now returned with an improved offer in the €30-35 million range (around £25-30 million), narrowing the gap and giving both sides something to work with.
Inter’s growing determination reflects how much value they place on Spence’s versatility. New head coach Cristian Chivu operates a 3-5-2 system that leans heavily on wing-backs for both defensive solidity and attacking width, and Inter are currently short of senior options on the right side of that setup. Spence, who can play right-back, either side of a back three, or as a wing-back, fits that profile well. He is also no stranger to Italian football, having spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Genoa, where 16 Serie A appearances gave him a working knowledge of the league’s tactical demands — experience that would ease any transition back to Italy.
His pace and defensive recovery speed add further appeal for a club preparing to defend their league title across a long season of domestic and European fixtures, where squad depth and adaptable personnel matter. For Inter, Spence represents more than backup cover; he offers Chivu the option to change shape without needing to make a substitution.
Adding to the intrigue, Spence’s build-up to the new season has been unusual. He returned late from international duty and missed Tottenham’s pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, and he was also left out of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Getafe, with Spurs still to close out their preparations against Hoffenheim. Under normal circumstances such absences might mean little, but against the backdrop of transfer speculation they have only added fuel to the story. Separately, reports suggesting Liverpool were not actively pursuing a deal for Spence, despite earlier links, could work in Inter’s favour by narrowing the field of interested parties.
Tottenham do hold some leverage in the situation, with Spence still having three years left on his contract, meaning there is no urgency to sell. Even so, retaining a player who may not be assured of regular football carries its own risks. For Spence personally, the equation is straightforward: a return to Serie A with Inter would offer a fresh path to regular first-team football and a tactical role suited to his strengths, whereas staying at Tottenham means continuing to compete with Porro for minutes.
With the two clubs still some distance apart on valuation but talks clearly progressing, the coming weeks are likely to prove decisive. Tottenham must weigh whether holding out for a bigger fee is worth the risk of keeping an unsettled player, while Inter will have to decide how far they are prepared to raise their offer. For now, Spence remains a Spurs player, but Inter’s renewed pursuit means his future is firmly back under scrutiny as the transfer window heads towards its close.
