Nottingham Forest ready for £15m transfer 'fight'

Nottingham Forest will "fight" Premier League side Brentford to sign Djed Spence on a permanent transfer, according to reports in the national media.

Spence has been a key player under Steve Cooper at Forest this season with his attacking wing-back style drawing plenty of attention. The 21-year-old has scored twice and contributed five assists in 38 appearances.

The wing-back is currently on loan at Forest from fellow Championship side Middlesbrough, but the England youth international is contracted to the Teesside club until June 2024.

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Now, according to The Sun, Forest will try to sign Spence on a full-time deal despite intense interest from clubs in the Premier League. Steve Cooper will face a transfer battle to sign Spence, however, with the national newspaper claiming Brentford are "plotting" a £15m bid for the young wing-back.

Forest and Brentford have a newly-formed rivalry when it comes to transfers, with the Bees having been keen on several of the Reds' top performers in recent years. Brennan Johnson and Joe Worrall have both been transfer targets for the west London club.

Spence has ambitions of playing "with the best players" and Forest could struggle to sign him on a permanent deal if they are unable to win promotion to the top flight.

He has previously said: "I always want to push myself and play with the best players and best team. I always want to push myself and play with the best players and best team.

"Of course it’s an ambition of mine to play in the Premier League. I try to stay level-headed. I don’t read too