Former Leeds United and Middlesbrough man given clear message regarding Tottenham Hotspur future

Former Leeds United and Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence has been handed a Tottenham Hotspur reprieve by head coach Ange Postecoglou.

Spence joined Tottenham two years ago, joining from Middlesbrough after a hugely successful loan spell at Nottingham Forest. However, he has been afforded just six first-team outings for the club during that time.

He was loaned out to French side Rennes during his maiden Tottenham campaign, before being allowed to join Leeds on a temporary basis in August 2023. Despite being considered a coup for the Whites, the move did not work out.

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Leeds boss Daniel Farke allowed Spence to return to Tottenham early and he spent the rest of the 2023/24 season in Italy with Genoa. Upon his return to London, few expected Spence to be reintegrated by Postecoglou.

Tottenham Hotspur's Djed Spence had a brief and forgettable loan spell at Leeds United. Image: Bruce RollinsonTottenham Hotspur's Djed Spence had a brief and forgettable loan spell at Leeds United. Image: Bruce Rollinson
Tottenham Hotspur's Djed Spence had a brief and forgettable loan spell at Leeds United. Image: Bruce Rollinson

However, after a string of impressive displays in pre-season friendlies, Spence appears to have earned another opportunity to make the grade at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

As reported by Sky Sports, Postecoglou said: “I think he’s been very, very good for us this pre-season, in terms of the way he’s trained and his general attitude. I think there’s an opportunity for him here, for sure; thinking about building a squad, he would be definitely somebody who could (contribute) with the attributes he has.

“A lot of these things are in the players’ hands themselves. They decide their own future in many respects and I think Djed’s in that boat. Maybe he’s learned a couple of things over the last couple of years about himself and hopefully we can sort of bear the fruit of that. He’s a very good player who fits into our football and so it’s as much about him as it is about me making a decision.”

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Leeds lost two right-backs in January, with Spence departing in the same window as the long-serving Luke Ayling. Burnley’s Connor Roberts was drafted in on loan but Farke continued to deploy midfielder Archie Gray in the right-back slot.

Gray has since been reunited with Spence, having signed for Tottenham in a deal reported to be worth £40m.

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