Tottenham and Inter Milan are reported to be nearing a deal for Djed Spence, with some accounts describing an agreement and another placing negotiations at an advanced stage. The England defender appears close to leaving north London, although neither the final price nor completion is established consistently across the reports.
The proposed transfer would take the 26-year-old to the Italian champions following a summer in which his England performances strengthened his standing. For Tottenham, it would mean losing a defender whose usefulness extended well beyond his preferred position, despite Roberto De Zerbi having expressed a desire to retain him.
Agreement reported, but the figures differ
Reports published on 12 August offered three different descriptions of the financial package. One put the agreement at £26.9m and said Spence had settled terms with Inter, subject to a medical. Another described a fee of around £30m with bonuses on top. A third reported advanced negotiations over a transfer carrying a minimum value of £25.6m, equivalent to €30m.
Those amounts should not be treated as interchangeable. A guaranteed payment, an initial fee and a package including achievable bonuses can produce different headline valuations, but the available reporting does not establish whether that explains the discrepancy here. The £30m-plus-bonuses account is materially different from a straight £26.9m agreement.
There is a similar distinction over the stage reached. Reports of agreed personal terms and an impending medical suggest substantial progress, while the description of advanced talks leaves more room for outstanding negotiations. Until confirmation arrives, the sound conclusion is that the move is close rather than complete.
A contract running until 2031 has also been reported. That would represent a significant commitment from Inter, although the proposed duration remains part of the reporting rather than a confirmed announcement.
Tottenham would lose cover on both sides
Spence's position in Tottenham's squad makes this more complicated than selling a reserve right-back. Pedro Porro occupies his preferred role, but Spence played on the left for Tottenham on 32 occasions last season, according to the reports. He also made 23 Premier League starts across the campaign.
Those figures challenge any simple portrayal of a player peripheral to the team. His Tottenham career included loans at Rennes, Leeds and Genoa, but his recent involvement was substantial. The relevant question is not merely whether he would displace Porro; it is how Tottenham would replace the minutes and positional flexibility he supplied.
The arrival of Andy Robertson from Liverpool adds an experienced left-sided option, while another report identifies Destiny Udogie as the likely first choice there. Neither point, by itself, establishes that Spence is surplus to requirements. Cover across two positions can be valuable even when neither starting place is guaranteed.
Reports that Tottenham have begun considering replacements therefore matter. They suggest the club recognise a squad-building consequence beyond the immediate receipt of a transfer fee. What remains unclear is whether they would seek another adaptable defender or redistribute those responsibilities among existing players.
De Zerbi's preference is not a veto
De Zerbi's public position helps explain why a sale could proceed despite his wish to keep Spence. His comments separated a coaching preference from both the player's decision and the club's responsibility for negotiating a price.
He also made clear that remaining at Tottenham required acceptance of his selection decisions. That is an important distinction: describing Spence as part of his plans did not amount to promising him a particular role or an automatic starting place.
It would nevertheless be a step too far to conclude that Spence demanded a departure. The supplied accounts establish the manager's general approach, not the private conversations that produced these negotiations.
Inter's opportunity and Tottenham's valuation test
One report presents Spence as the intended successor to Denzel Dumfries, who is linked with Real Madrid. If those moves proceed, Inter would be recruiting against a specific positional need rather than simply adding defensive depth. Spence's experience at right wing-back offers a clear rationale, while his ability to operate on the opposite flank provides further flexibility.
His World Cup contribution also supplies context for the timing. The reports agree that he improved his reputation with England, although international visibility alone cannot determine a transfer's value.
Against Tottenham's reported £20m purchase price in 2022, each suggested fee represents a higher headline sum. That comparison is not a complete assessment of the business, however. The final guaranteed payment, any bonuses and the cost of replacing his contribution will matter more than the apparent uplift alone. Those unanswered questions leave Tottenham's sporting return less settled than the reported agreement suggests.