Inter consider Djed Spence: Tottenham's price is the key obstacle in the search for a new right wing-back
Inter have opened a search for reinforcements on the right side during the summer transfer window, and among the names being seriously considered is Djed Spence, the 25-year-old England international and Tottenham defender. According to reports from the Italian and English media published on July 14 and 15, 2026, the Milan club have already established contacts to explore the conditions of a possible transfer, but negotiations have not yet reached a stage at which an agreement can be said to have been reached. Inter view Spence as a player capable of covering both flank positions, attacking space at great speed and meeting the demands of a system with three central defenders. His profile is particularly interesting following Denzel Dumfries' departure for Real Madrid, a transfer that Inter officially confirmed at the beginning of July. However, the difference between the amount the Italian champions are prepared to spend and Tottenham's valuation currently remains the central problem of the entire operation.
According to information citing Sky Italia, Inter would like to remain within a range of approximately €25 million to €30 million. Tottenham, on the other hand, have not publicly announced a price or confirmed that Spence has been put up for sale, but English reports state that the London club expect a significantly higher fee. Some media outlets mention a threshold of at least £40 million, showing how far apart the two clubs' starting positions are. Such a difference does not mean that the deal is impossible, but it suggests that Inter would have to increase their offer, agree on a more complex bonus structure or wait for market circumstances to change. Further uncertainty is created by interest from Everton, who are also seeking a long-term solution at right-back and could offer Tottenham a financially more attractive deal within the Premier League.
Dumfries' departure has opened an important position in Inter's squad
The need for a new right wing-back became more pronounced after Inter announced that Denzel Dumfries had moved to Real Madrid through the activation of his release clause. The Netherlands international left Milan after five seasons, 207 appearances, 27 goals, 28 assists and eight trophies won, according to figures published by the Italian club. His departure is not merely a personnel change but also a tactical challenge, as Dumfries had for years been an important source of depth, runs into the final third and physical strength on the right side. Inter are therefore not looking for a conventional full-back limited to defensive duties, but for a player capable of maintaining width, attacking the space behind the opposition defence and quickly returning to the basic formation. With his athletic characteristics and experience of playing on both sides, Spence fits that description.
Inter enter the 2026/27 season with high expectations after winning the league title and the Italian Cup in the previous campaign. In June, the club extended coach Cristian Chivu's contract until 2028, confirming the continuity of the sporting project and their confidence in the coaching staff. In such a context, the reinforcement on the right flank must be good enough to compete for a place in the starting line-up, but also financially sustainable within the broader squad-building strategy. In recent years, Inter have often combined experience, tactical adaptability and market opportunities, so they are not expected to agree to any price merely because the position has been left without its previous first-choice player. That is precisely why the assessment of Spence's value could determine whether the interest develops into an official offer.
Spence's speed and versatility suit the wing-back role
Spence is naturally a right-back, but at Tottenham and during other stages of his career he has shown that he can also play on the left side. That versatility increases his value in teams that change their shape during matches or use advanced wide players. His most prominent qualities are acceleration, the ability to carry the ball through open space, energy when repeating sprints and defensive recovery after possession is lost. Official Premier League data rank him among the fastest players in the competition, a quality that comes to the fore in transition and in situations when a full-back must defend a large amount of space behind him. For Inter, that could be particularly important in matches in which the team spends long periods attacking a high defensive line but remains exposed to counter-attacks.
The Englishman is not an identical profile to Dumfries, and his potential arrival would not represent a straightforward replacement of one player with the same type of footballer. During his time in Milan, Dumfries developed a strong instinct for entering the penalty area and finishing moves at the far post, whereas Spence creates most of his threat through ball carrying, changes of pace and individually gaining ground. His game still requires improvement in decision-making in the final third, the quality of his final pass and positional discipline against opponents who control possession for long periods. However, at the age of 25, he still has room for development, while experience in the Premier League, European competitions and Italian football reduces the risk associated with adaptation. For Chivu, an additional benefit would be the possibility of using Spence on either flank, depending on the opponent, injuries and rotation.
A return to Italy would not be a completely new experience for him
Spence has already experienced Serie A during a loan spell at Genoa in the second half of the 2023/24 season. At the Italian club, he worked under Alberto Gilardino and was given an opportunity in a system that demanded discipline without the ball and well-timed involvement in attack from its wide players. That period is important when assessing a possible transfer because it shows that the player is already familiar with the rhythm of the Italian league, the tactical preparation of matches and the demands of living outside England. According to an analysis by Gazzetta dello Sport, he left a positive impression at Genoa, although a permanent stay was not completed at the time. A return to Italy, this time to a club with ambitions of winning trophies and regularly competing in the Champions League, would represent a considerably greater sporting challenge.
His professional journey before Tottenham also explains why he is regarded as a player who progressed through different levels and systems. After developing in Fulham's academy, he moved to Middlesbrough and attracted wider attention during a loan spell at Nottingham Forest in the 2021/22 season, when he helped the team secure a return to the Premier League. Tottenham signed him in July 2022 in a deal that, according to Sky Sports reports at the time, could have reached £20 million including bonuses. His start in London was not straightforward, so he sought playing time through loan spells at Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa. Only after returning was he able to establish a more stable role in Tottenham's first team and change the perception that he was a player without a clear place in the club's project.
Tottenham announced in August 2025 that Spence had signed a new long-term contract. That fact significantly affects the London club's negotiating position, as there is no immediate pressure to sell the player at a reduced price. The new contract came after his breakthrough 2024/25 season, in which he established himself through increased playing time and contributed to winning the Europa League. The official club biography points out that he had made only six appearances for Tottenham before the start of that season, before reaching 41 appearances in all competitions by its conclusion. Such development explains why Spurs now value him significantly higher than during the period when they were sending him out on loan.
The World Cup has further increased the England international's visibility
Spence's status on the market has been further strengthened by his appearances for England at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Football Association states that it is his first major senior tournament and that he made his World Cup debut in the 4-2 group-stage victory against Croatia. During the tournament, Thomas Tuchel's team used him on the right flank, either from the start or as a substitute, depending on fitness and tactical requirements. His performances were not without fluctuations, but his speed, energy and ability to make an impact from the bench attracted further attention. As of July 15, 2026, England are preparing in Atlanta for the semi-final against Argentina, so it is understandable that final decisions about his club future may wait until the conclusion of his international commitments.
Major tournaments often influence perceptions of market value because they expose players to matches under the greatest pressure and in front of a global audience. In Spence's case, every good performance further supports Tottenham's argument that they should not accept an offer within the range Inter consider reasonable. At the same time, tournament matches cannot be the sole criterion for a transfer worth tens of millions of euros. Clubs will analyse his club form, consistency, injury history, tactical compatibility and room for further development. Inter's assessment must therefore encompass both the immediate need for reinforcement and the long-term possibility that Spence will retain or increase his value.
Everton can influence the price and the dynamics of negotiations
Inter are not the only club monitoring the situation. Everton are described in English reports as a serious candidate, and their interest has clear sporting logic following the end of Seamus Coleman's long playing era. Everton officially announced that Coleman had ended his playing career at the club after more than 17 years and 435 appearances, opening the question of a long-term solution on the right side of defence. David Moyes' team began preparations for the 2026/27 season at the start of July, so the club could attempt to accelerate the deal in order for a new full-back to take part in most of the pre-season period. Spence's Premier League experience and homegrown-player status are additional advantages for an English buyer.
For Tottenham, an offer from Everton could be attractive if it is higher or structured more simply than Inter's, but selling to a direct league rival also carries a sporting risk. Inter, on the other hand, can offer the player a chance to compete for trophies, experience in Serie A with which he is already familiar and an important role in the position vacated by Dumfries. The decision will not depend only on the transfer fee, but also on how much playing time Spence expects at Tottenham following the summer changes to the squad. The London club have Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie in the wide positions, while competition has been further increased by the arrival of Andy Robertson. If the coaching staff determine that Spence will not have sufficient opportunities, a sale becomes more realistic, but Tottenham can still insist on a high price because of his contract, age and versatility.
Inter must decide how far they are prepared to move beyond their initial budget
At this moment, the most important thing is to distinguish serious interest from a completed transfer. The available information points to contacts and an examination of the conditions, but there is no official confirmation of an offer, a medical examination or an agreement between the clubs. Inter's range of €25 million to €30 million is currently below the amount linked in England with Tottenham's expectations. A possible compromise could include a guaranteed amount closer to Inter's plan, easily achievable bonuses, additions linked to appearances and trophies or a percentage of a future sale. However, Tottenham have no need to make concessions quickly, particularly if Everton or other interested clubs enter the race with concrete proposals.
For the Milan club, the timing is also important because the new Serie A season begins in August and Chivu must develop patterns of play on the right side following the departure of a long-standing first-team player. Waiting too long could reduce the time available for the new player's tactical adaptation, while a rushed decision could result in an overpriced transfer. Spence represents a lower adaptation risk than a player who has never appeared in Serie A because of his experience in Italy, but the price remains decisive. Inter are therefore likely to monitor other options in parallel in order to retain negotiating flexibility. Such an approach also sends Tottenham the message that the Milan club will not increase their offer indefinitely.
In the space of several years, Spence has gone from being a player on the fringes of Tottenham's squad to an England international at the World Cup and a sought-after candidate on the European market. Inter's interest confirms how much his status and value have changed, but it also demonstrates the limits of financial competition between clubs operating in different market circumstances. Tottenham have the contract, competing interest and arguments for a high valuation, while Inter have a clear need and an attractive sporting project. Everton add further pressure and could accelerate the decision after the end of the World Cup. Until then, it is most accurate to speak of a serious and active possibility rather than a deal close to final agreement.
Sources:
- FC Internazionale Milano – official confirmation of Denzel Dumfries' transfer to Real Madrid and data on his record at Inter (link)
- FC Internazionale Milano – official confirmation of coach Cristian Chivu's contract extension until 2028 (link)
- Tottenham Hotspur – official announcement of Djed Spence's new long-term contract from August 2025 (link)
- Tottenham Hotspur – official player profile and overview of his development, appearances and breakthrough season (link)
- FIFA – official schedule for the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina on July 15, 2026, in Atlanta (link)
- England Football – official Djed Spence profile and information about his first appearance at the 2026 World Cup (link)
- Everton FC – official information about the end of Seamus Coleman's playing career at the club after 435 appearances (link)
- La Gazzetta dello Sport – analysis of Spence's profile, experience at Genoa and Inter's interest (link)
- Inside Futbol, according to Sky Italia – information about Inter's planned range of €25 million to €30 million and Tottenham's higher valuation (link)
- Sky Sports – information about Spence's transfer from Middlesbrough to Tottenham in 2022 and the deal's possible total value (link)
- talkSPORT – report on Everton's interest in Spence and competition in Tottenham's wide positions (link)
- Yahoo Sports, according to Football Insider – report on Tottenham's alleged demand of at least £40 million (link)