Club director confirms they are in talks with Tottenham over a deal for 23-year-old

Genoa’s sporting director has now confirmed that the club are in talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a permanent deal for Djed Spence.

Spence’s stint on loan at Leeds United during the first half of the season did not go as planned; the right-back missed a large portion of the campaign due to injury.

When the Championship team abruptly ended his stint in January, it was unexpected; Daniel Farke hinted that the player’s disciplinary problems may have been the cause (talkSPORT).

The 23-year-old went on loan to Genoa in January, and the Serie A team has the option to extend the agreement for a further £8.5 million this summer.

Spence has made nine league games since moving to Italy (Transfermarkt), although he has not been a regular in Alberto Gilardino’s starting lineup, despite receiving high praise for some of his performances at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium (Virgilio Sport).

Genoa are interested in a deal for Djed Spence

Ottolini has since asserted, nevertheless, that he regularly speaks with both Spurs and the right-back on the player’s future.

He said to CaughtOffside, “I talk to Djed once a week. We’ve given him a comfortable space. We’re working hard to make him feel at home here, and hopefully that will show in his on-field performances. We wish to provide him the ideal circumstances for success.

We want to see what he can do in the last seven games. For my part, I think Djed is doing well and is training well.

“We are in contact with Spurs and will evaluate a deal over the next few months, giving us time to understand both our positions and Djed’s perspective on possibly staying here. Of course, he can do more, and he knows this.”

It is unclear why Genoa would need to speak with Spurs on the Spence deal, especially when the loan agreement clearly includes a buyout option.

Ottolini’s statement may indicate that Tottenham and Genoa are also in talks to sign Albert Gudmundsson, and Spurs may be willing to use Spence as a bargaining chip in the process.