Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder has admitted that Djed Spence ‘obviously’ doesn’t want to return to the club amid interest from Tottenham, and he ultimately expects Spurs to land the 21-year-old.
The wing-back spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Boro’s Championship rivals Nottingham Forest and played a huge role as they earned promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Spence’s performances didn’t go unnoticed and 90min understands Tottenham are confident that they will win the race for his signature.
While Boro boss Wilder remained tight-lipped regarding negotiations, he did reveal that Spence’s future is almost certainly away from Teesside.
“If nothing happens with Djed, then he’s our player and he’ll be back for pre-season,” Wilder told the Northern Echo. “From my point of view, negotiations between Kieran [Scott, head of football], Neil [Bausor, chief executive], Steve [Gibson, chairman and owner] and Tottenham stay between Kieran, Neil, Steve and Tottenham.
“If the deal doesn’t get done, we’ll see where we go from there. Have I got an input into it? Yeah, 100 per cent. The boy obviously doesn’t want to come back here, which I’ve got absolutely no issue with. He obviously sees his future away from here, and he had a brilliant season last season.
“We’re expecting that deal to happen, but if it doesn’t, then he’s our player. From a club point of view, the deal has to be right. We’re not trying to stand in the way of anybody. I’ve never done that as a manager, and I’ve had plenty of situations before where opportunities have come along to players.
“But there’s always three parties involved in any deal, and it’s got to be right for all three parties for it to happen. It’s got to be right for the player, and obviously from the noises, it sounds as though that’s [Tottenham] where he wants to go. Tottenham want him, and we’re prepared for that. But it’s got to be right for us too. It all needs to marry up.”
