Tottenham are closing in on a £20million deal for Middlesbrough right-back Djed Spence as talks intensify.
The 21-year-old, who was rested from England U21s fixture with Kosovo on Friday night, impressed on loan at Nottingham Forest last season and has attracted a number of enquiries.
He will also boost Tottenham’s homegrown quota with the expectation the transfer will be finalised early next week.
Spence was unfancied by former Boro boss Neil Warnock, who sent him out on loan to Forest last summer, but his superb season at the City Ground has made him one of the highest-rated young defenders in England.
He made 46 appearances in all competitions as Steve Cooper’s side won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs and he was named in the Championship team of the season.
Tottenham are aiming to get their transfer business done early this summer, with Spence set to become Antonio Conte’s third signing of the window after Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster.
The 21-year-old, who was born in London and played for Fulham’s academy, will battle it out with Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty for the right-back spot at Spurs.
Forest had hoped to keep Spence but competition was fierce. They are exploring other options and have asked about Manchester City’s Issa Kabore plus Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles who has a year left on contract.
Kabore, a Burkina Faso international, was sent on loan to City’s Ligue 1 sister club Troyes last season