Djed Spence: Liverpool's Pursuit Amid Inter Competition

Andoni Iraola has identified his first big defensive swing as Liverpool manager – and it could drag him straight into a bidding war with Inter.

The Spaniard is, according to reports, trawling the market for a new full-back, and one name keeps landing back on his desk: Djed Spence. Once a drifting talent shuttled between loan spells at Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa, the 25-year-old finally clicked at Tottenham during the run-in of the 2025-26 season. Those months in north London have changed the shape of his career – and the shape of this summer’s market.

Liverpool are watching. Closely. Ready to move if Tottenham show even a hint of weakness before the window shuts. The attraction is obvious: a dynamic, international-level full-back entering his peak years, with the athleticism to fit Iraola’s front-foot football.

But this is no quiet chase.

Spurs hold the cards – for now

Spence’s situation at Tottenham is as intriguing as it is uncertain. His stock has soared off the back of his international performances, yet his path to the starting XI under Roberto De Zerbi looks blocked.

The Italian coach is understood to favour Pedro Porro and Andy Robertson as his primary full-back options. That hierarchy leaves Spence in an awkward middle ground: too valuable to ignore, not yet central to the manager’s plans. The door is not wide open, but it is not shut either.

Crucially, Tottenham are protected. Spence signed a contract extension last August that runs until June 2028, handing the club a powerful negotiating position. They are not inclined to sell on the cheap, particularly after his value surged over the summer. The message is clear: they are open to doing business, but only on their terms.

Those terms? A fee in the region of £35 million.

For a player who has only recently cemented himself as a top-level option, that is a statement price. For clubs who believe he is still climbing, it is an investment.

Inter step into the ring

Liverpool’s pursuit is complicated by a familiar force in the European market: Inter.

The blue half of Milan have moved decisively. They have identified Spence as a priority target to reinforce their full-back positions after Denzel Dumfries’ move to Real Madrid left a sizeable gap on the right. In Cristian Chivu’s system, the full-back role is pivotal, and Inter’s recruitment team believe Spence fits the profile.

Talks have already taken place with the player’s representatives. Inter’s hierarchy – including Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio – are described as willing to stretch their original budget to get this over the line. They know what they are chasing: a World Cup performer whose price is unlikely to dip if they wait another year.

Every strong international display has only sharpened that concern. Delay, and the fee climbs. Move now, and they might just beat Liverpool to a player who can define their right flank for years.

Pull of Anfield, pull of Milan

Spence himself sits at the crossroads of two powerful attractions.

He has already tasted Serie A with Genoa and left a strong impression. That spell in Italy clearly resonated; the idea of returning to a league and a country where he has already thrived is said to appeal to him.

Yet Liverpool are Liverpool. A club of that scale, with Iraola’s intense, adventurous style, offers its own magnetism. For a full-back who thrives on space, aggression and tempo, Anfield presents a compelling stage.

Timing adds another twist. After helping England secure third place at the World Cup, Spence was granted an extended holiday and missed Tottenham’s pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, sitting out games against Auckland FC and Sydney FC. While his team-mates tuned up for the new campaign, his future became a talking point rather than his performances.

A race against the clock

As the new Premier League season looms and the transfer deadline creeps closer, this is no longer a slow-burn saga. It is a race.

Tottenham can afford to wait, protected by years left on his deal and a clear valuation. Inter have already moved into position. Liverpool, if they are to land one of England’s most improved defenders, may soon have to show how badly they want him – in hard cash, not just admiration.

One player, two giants, one decisive window. Where Spence lines up next will say plenty about the power balance between Anfield and the San Siro in this market.