'From conversations I've had': Journalist shares what he's been told about player Tottenham want to sign next

By Sam Preston

Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Dejd Spence is very good going forward, says journalist Charlie Eccleshare.

Spurs correspondent Eccleshare was speaking on the Athletic’s View from the Lane podcast about what he has heard about the Middlesbrough defender.

There is a determination on the part of both the Englishman himself and the club to ensure that Spence is Tottenham’s next summer signing.

And Eccleshare made a loose comparison with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold in terms of his strengths and weaknesses.

Spence is ‘very good’ going forward

“From conversations that I’ve had with people in the game,” Eccleshare said.

“Quite a few have said that he’s got that slight – and before this is re-worded as me comparing him to Trent – but in a kind of very good going forward and not so good going the other way.

“The performance Spurs fans might have particularly enjoyed is when he destroyed Arsenal in that FA Cup tie in January.”

Spence would likely be playing right wing-back in Antonio Conte’s system, which would put more emphasis on his work going forward than back anyway.

That said, the Italian would want him to be solid defensively and would likely do a lot of work to improve him in that area of the game.

Eccleshare said he didn’t want people making a direct comparison with Alexander-Arnold, but if Spence can even get close to that level of productivity once he is settled in at Spurs, it would be a great signing.