Liverpool and Inter Battle for Djed Spence in £35m Transfer

Andoni Iraola has not been at Liverpool long, but his intentions are already clear. He wants pace, aggression and depth down the flanks – and he believes Djed Spence can give him exactly that.

According to The Sun, the Liverpool manager has turned his gaze firmly towards north London, where Spence’s stock has quietly, and then suddenly, soared at Tottenham. After a turbulent spell that sent him on loan to Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa, the 25-year-old finally put a run together at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the closing months of the 2025-26 season. That late surge has changed everything.

Liverpool are now lurking. Not casually, not idly. They are tracking every development, ready to move if the numbers fall into a range they can live with before the window shuts. The competition, though, is fierce – and not just domestic.

Spence caught between De Zerbi’s plans and a rising market

For all his recent progress and his impact on the international stage with England, Spence’s future under Roberto De Zerbi is anything but secure. The Italian coach is understood to favour Pedro Porro and Andy Robertson as his first-choice full-backs, a hierarchy that leaves Spence in an awkward limbo.

The door is not wide open, but it is not locked either.

Tottenham’s stance is calculated. Spence signed a contract extension last August, tying him to the club until June 2028 and handing Spurs a position of strength at the negotiating table. They are described as “open” to a sale, but only on their terms: a fee in the region of £35 million.

His value has climbed after a standout summer and Spurs know it. They are not about to let a rejuvenated asset walk out for anything less than a premium.

Inter push hard as Dumfries’ heir is sought

Just as Liverpool weigh their move, Inter have stepped in with real intent. The blue half of Milan has identified Spence as a priority signing to reshape their full-back options after Denzel Dumfries’ departure to Real Madrid.

For Cristian Chivu, Spence fits the template: athletic, front-foot, capable of stretching the pitch and defending aggressively in transition. Inter have already spoken with the player’s representatives and, crucially, are ready to stretch their budget to get ahead of Liverpool.

Inside the club, figures such as Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio are said to be wary of waiting. They know how this market works. A strong World Cup, a late-season surge, Premier League interest – leave it too long and the price only climbs. Inter would rather pay now than be priced out later.

England breakout, extended break, and a choice to make

Spence’s rise has been framed by his performances for England, helping his country secure third place at the World Cup. That run earned him an extended holiday as the new Premier League season draws near, and he has already missed Tottenham’s pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, sitting out games against Auckland FC and Sydney FC.

So he watches from afar as his future is debated.

Italy holds a certain pull. His loan spell at Genoa gave him familiarity with Serie A and a sense that he can thrive there over the long term. A return would not be a leap into the unknown.

Yet Liverpool is Liverpool. The chance to work under Iraola, in a side that demands intensity and offers the platform of Anfield and the Premier League spotlight, carries its own weight. For a player whose career has swung wildly from loan spells to late breakthroughs, this decision could define his prime years.

The clock is ticking towards deadline day. Tottenham hold the cards with a long contract and a clear price. Liverpool and Inter both believe Spence can be their answer at full-back. Now the question is simple: who moves first, and who blinks?