Leeds United have been linked with a loan move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence.
As per Ben Jacobs, Leeds are among three Championship clubs interested in signing Spence before next Friday’s 11pm deadline with Spurs happy to let him leave.
According to Football London, Spence has failed to impress news Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou and as such, the London club will listen to any offers for him, though the 23-year-old is determined not to leave the Premier League.
Spence has faito fulfil his potential at Spurs since joining from Middlesbrough last summer, with former Leeds defender Jonled a Woodgate having handed him his debut at the Riverside.
Leeds now want Spence, who Woodgate thinks is ‘exceptional’
Spence’s first senior appearance for Boro came in a 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic, with Spence’s performance in the win drawing particular praise from Woodgate.
Woodgate effectively labelled Spence as the full defensive package, hailing his pace, defensive strength, pressing ability and dribbling, making him the ideal attacking wing-back.
Speaking to the Northern Echo, he said: “Djed came in and did an absolutely fantastic job. c can do that. Okay, at times this season we’ve had to sit down and have a few meetings together, and tell him what his potential is. But I thought he was exceptional, and it’s his place to lose now because of that performance.
“I just said, ‘Get the ball Djed, and run’. It’s not rocket science. I’m not going to start bluffing it and saying we talked about this, this and this. I just said, ‘Get the ball and run, and take your man on – and when you have to defend, defend’.
Leeds now want Spence, who Woodgate thinks is ‘exceptional’
Spence’s first senior appearance for Boro came in a 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic, with Spence’s performance in the win drawing particular praise from Woodgate.
Woodgate effectively labelled Spence as the full defensive package, hailing his pace, defensive strength, pressing ability and dribbling, making him the ideal attacking wing-back.
Speaking to the Northern Echo, he said: “Djed came in and did an absolutely fantastic job. Djed can do that. Okay, at times this season we’ve had to sit down and have a few meetings together, and tell him what his potential is. But I thought he was exceptional, and it’s his place to lose now because of that performance.
“I just said, ‘Get the ball Djed, and run’. It’s not rocket science. I’m not going to start bluffing it and saying we talked about this, this and this. I just said, ‘Get the ball and run, and take your man on – and when you have to defend, defend’.
It’s quite simple messages you give these young kids, you don’t have to complicate the game for them. I’m not one of the type of fellas who is going to complicate my words. Just be normal with them.
“Djed is the quickest at the club. He’s difficult to get past one-against-one, and as you saw today, he can press, and he presses with a real pace. To be fair, the academy have done really well with Djed, Craig Liddle and Graeme Lee. I’m really pleased for him. We’ve had a lot of meetings this year, and hopefully the penny drops.”
Clearly Spence has not lived up to that hype at Spurs but you do not lose those attributes over night and at 23, he still has plenty of room to grow.
Spence has already proven how good he is at this level during a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, and if Leeds were able to prise him to Elland Road it would be a significant coup.