“By the start of the season” – Journalist reveals transfer expectation on Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough star saga

TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook still expects Middlesbrough wing-back Djed Spence to be a Tottenham Hotspur player by the start of the 2022/23 campaign, making his prediction in an interview with Give Me Sport.

The 21-year-old’s future is still unclear at this stage, though he’s unlikely to be one of the first names on the teamsheet at the Riverside Stadium next term, with the England youth international being heavily linked with a move away and Isaiah Jones establishing himself as a star for Boro last season.

Previously, it looked as though Spurs and Nottingham Forest were going to go head-to-head for the wing-back’s signature, with the latter even believed to have been willing to break their transfer record to lure him to the City Ground on a permanent basis.

Spence has already become accustomed to life in the East Midlands following his loan spell with the Reds last term, proving to be crucial in guiding Steve Cooper’s side to promotion and even shone against Premier League sides in the FA Cup earlier this year.

Despite previously being interested in a permanent deal for him though, they have seemingly moved on to other targets and this has allowed Antonio Conte’s men to assert themselves as the frontrunners in this race.

An agreement is yet to be reached between the two sides with Boro wanting at least £20m for his services – but reporter Crook is still confident of an agreement being reached before the new season starts.

He said: “What’s interesting about this deal – and the reason that Tottenham fans are getting agitated – is because it’s believed to be the one transfer that Daniel Levy is personally working on.

“Obviously, it’s one they’ve not managed to get over the line, so there’s a bit of angst about that, but