Tottenham Hotspur have increased the price paid for Jed Spence following the England full-back’s performance at the World Cup.
Spence went from being an international player fighting for his future at Tottenham to becoming one of the standout stories of England’s World Cup campaign and changing the conversation around his reputation.
The 25-year-old’s breakthrough moment came in the quarter-finals against Norway, when he came off the bench and made a 34-minute cameo, contributing seven times on defense, winning three of four ground battles and one in the air, and completing 12 of 14 passes while pushing forward with energy.
After the match, Rio Ferdinand was one of several pundits to praise the Spurs player, saying people need to “respect his name”, while the former Manchester United and England defender demanded that fans and pundits alike finally recognize the qualities Spence has shown on the game’s biggest stage.
It’s a high rating from one of the most respected defenders in English football history, and it’s echoed elsewhere, with Alan Shearer enthusiastically proclaiming Spence a man of the match candidate in commentary during the defeat to Argentina.
The 25-year-old left many Tottenham fans wondering why he was being sold after his stunning tackle that kept Lionel Messi tied up for too long and denied Giuliano Simeone a goal-scoring chance.
Spence’s World Cup in numbers
Play time 313 minutes
87 percent pass success rate
2 tackles per game
0.4 dribbles per game
0.3 shots per game
Indeed, suitors have been circling for a cut-price deal since it became clear the former Middlesbrough man was not in manager Roberto De Zerbi’s plans, but Spurs’ valuation has now changed significantly.
Tottenham put price tag on new Spence
According to reports in Italy, Inter’s interest in the English player remains unabated, but they face more difficult challenges in finalizing a deal.
This is despite Spence himself wanting to play in next season’s Champions League and being keen to join.
The versatile speedster is said to be keen on a move, with Spurs currently asking for more than €35m (about £30m), which would see them make a handsome profit of £10m on the fee they paid to sign him from Boro in 2022.
Spence may now have to personally force his departure. This is a strategy adopted by an increasing number of top players in recent transfer windows.
The two clubs are scheduled to hold talks after the World Cup, with the Three Lions scheduled to take part in the third-place match in Miami on Saturday.
Spence’s exit opens the way for Souza
According to Football FanCast’s sources, Tottenham have told Brazilian left-back Souza they intend to join manager De Zerbi’s plans for next season.
The manager values his versatility and intends to use him as an alternative option to the experienced Andy Robertson, who joined as a free agent from Liverpool this summer.
Destiny Oudogie could be released as he continues to struggle with injuries, but the Spurs manager wants two quality options in each position for the new season.
