Neil Warnock believes Tottenham boss Antonio Conte could be the perfect fit for Djed Spence

Neil Warnock believes Antonio Conte could be the perfect fit for Djed Spence as the Middlesbrough defender closes in on a transfer to Tottenham this summer. Middlesbrough officials remain in negotiations with Spurs over the deal that would see the right-back move to the north London club.

And while a deal is not yet finalised, it is expected that the two parties will eventually come to an agreement that will see Spence, 21, make the move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where he will play under the Italian head coach. It follows an excellent season while on loan at Nottingham Forest last term.

Warnock was of course the Middlesbrough manager who sent Spence out on loan to Forest as the pair butted heads and Warnock struggled to get the best out of the right-sided defender throughout his time in charge on Teesside. With Warnock favouring defensive-minded players in his backline, he had concerns over Spence's concentration and the defensive side of his game.

Neil Warnock reveals why he allowed Djed Spence to leave Middlesbrough for Nottingham Forest

But given Conte will more often than not play a back five that allows Spence to be a bit more offensively-minded from right wing-back, and given that Conte is known as tough, no-nonsense kind of manager, Warnock believes he could be exactly what the Boro youngster needs to progress his career.

Warnock told TalkSport: “I had a few run-ins with Djed, to be honest, as managers do. I had one or two chats with him and a few words were said. So the lads said, he had a bit of a go at me. But I’m glad to see it seems the penny has dropped because like I said to him face to face, it could go either way. I told him, ‘you could be playing for Bromley next year, or you could be in the