Opinion: Why Middlesbrough should alter Djed Spence’s price tag for different interested sides amid £12m valuation

Middlesbrough full-back Djed Spence could be available for as little as £12m during the summer transfer window, as per a report from the Evening Standard.

For those who have watched the 21-year-old in action for loan side Nottingham Forest this term, that may come as a real surprise considering how important he has been to Steve Cooper’s side’s cause this term.

Not only has he been integral in forcing the Reds up the Championship table with his attacking threat after they suffered an extremely poor start to the campaign, but the England youth international has also shone against multiple Premier League sides including Arsenal and Leicester City.

Being the subject of interest from other sides even before arriving at the City Ground, his displays have only generated more interest in his signature with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United and Brentford all thought to be monitoring his progress in the East Midlands ahead of a potential approach in the summer.

And Boro will have a sizeable amount of power at the negotiating table with Spence signing a contract extension at the Riverside Stadium prior to his move to Forest.

This will give them the opportunity to demand a considerable amount of money for his services, with a sale looking likely at this stage as Isaiah Jones continues to impress at right wing-back for Chris Wilder’s men.

A spot on the left-hand side could be on offer for Spence, but it remains to be seen whether the Teesside outfit would get the best out of him on his weaker side and at this stage, he almost seems destined for the top tier this season, with or without his parent club.

And with this in mind, Boro should actively be devising a strategy of how they can financially benefit as much as possible