Ashworth immediately plotting NUFC bid for "swashbuckling" £20m gem, he's Trippier 2.0 - opinion

Newcastle United chief Dan Ashworth is immediately plotting a bid to sign right-back Djed Spence…

According to Football.London, the Magpies are one of a number of teams interested in signing the Middlesbrough defender ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Ashworth joined Newcastle as sporting director earlier this week and this fresh claim suggests that Spence has emerged as one of his first targets.

The report claims that Borussia Dortmund, Nottingham Forest – with whom he spent the season just gone on loan – and Tottenham are among the other teams keen on a deal for the youngster.

It has previously been reported that the Championship club will demand a fee in the region of £20m for the full-back, although it remains to be seen if that is still the case.

PIF brought in a quality English right-back in the previous transfer window as they signed Trippier from Atletico Madrid and Ashworth can now repeat that trick by landing Spence.

The 21-year-old is at the opposite end of his career to the former Spurs man but has the potential to get to the very top.

In the Championship, Spence played 42 matches as he helped Forest return to the Premier League via the play-offs, winning the final 1-0 last weekend. He showcased his attacking talent from right-back as he produced two goals and four assists, creating six ‘big chances’ in total.

His impressive performances caught the eye of former Premier League striker Ian Wright. He showered the gem with praise earlier this year, saying:

“If we are talking about right-backs performing at an unbelievable level, we’re talking about Reece James and Trent, but I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time. I said to him, in all seriousness, ‘That