Djed Spence: Liverpool and Inter Battle for Tottenham Star

Andoni Iraola has identified his first big defensive swing as Liverpool manager – and it could drag him straight into a tug-of-war with Inter for one of Tottenham’s most intriguing late bloomers.

Liverpool circle as Spence finally comes good

Djed Spence’s time at Spurs has been chaotic, at times bordering on forgettable. Loans to Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa turned him into a footballing nomad rather than a North London fixture. Then, almost out of nowhere, the 25-year-old caught fire at the back end of the 2025-26 season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That late surge has changed everything.

Liverpool, according to reports, have moved from casual observers to serious admirers. Iraola wants fresh legs and aggression in his backline, and Spence’s mix of recovery pace and attacking ambition fits neatly into that brief. The club are watching closely, waiting for the kind of opening that tends to appear in the final days of a transfer window when nerves fray and positions soften.

The problem? They are not alone.

De Zerbi’s pecking order leaves door ajar

For all Spence’s rise in stock, his status under Roberto De Zerbi remains uncertain. The Italian has clear ideas about his full-backs, and the word from inside Tottenham is that Pedro Porro and Andy Robertson sit at the top of his list.

That leaves Spence in an awkward limbo: too valuable to ignore, not quite central to the manager’s plans.

Tottenham’s stance reflects that tension. They are not pushing him out, but they are listening. Spence signed a contract extension last August, tying him to Spurs until June 2028, which hands the club the leverage every selling side craves. Any buyer will have to pay full price.

The figure being floated is around £35 million. For Tottenham, that number acknowledges both his late-season impact and a summer in which his value has climbed. They are said to be “open” to a sale at that level, but not inclined to haggle far below it.

Inter step up the chase

Just as Liverpool weigh their move, Inter have accelerated theirs.

The blue half of Milan has marked Spence down as a priority to reinforce the flanks after Denzel Dumfries’ departure to Real Madrid. Cristian Chivu wants a dynamic, two-way full-back to anchor his system for the next cycle, and Inter’s hierarchy believes Spence can grow into that role.

Talks have already taken place with the player’s representatives. Inter are not hiding. They are prepared to stretch their initial budget, conscious that every week of hesitation risks another strong performance or another suitor nudging the price higher.

Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio know this market well. When a player’s profile spikes on the international stage, the window to strike at a semi-realistic fee tends to be short. Spence, fresh from enhancing his reputation with England, fits that pattern perfectly.

England exploits, missed tour, and a choice to make

Spence’s summer has been anything but quiet. He helped England secure third place at the World Cup, a run that earned him an extended break and kept him away from Tottenham’s pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia. While his team-mates played in friendlies against Auckland FC, Sydney FC and others, he was resting – and, inevitably, becoming the subject of transfer briefings and phone calls.

Those close to the situation suggest he is open to going back to Italy after a positive spell at Genoa. He knows the league, understands the rhythm of Serie A, and has already proved he can adapt there. Inter can sell him a clear role and a familiar environment.

Yet Liverpool is Liverpool. The pull of Anfield, the chance to work under Iraola in a high-energy, front-foot system, and the lure of a Premier League title chase carry their own weight. For a player whose career has finally found traction, it is the kind of decision that can define the next five years.

The clock is ticking towards the deadline. Tottenham hold the contract and the price. Liverpool and Inter hold the ambition. Spence holds the final word.