Inter Milan Near Deal for Djed Spence as Tottenham Reshapes Squad
Inter Milan are closing on a deal for Djed Spence, with Tottenham’s defensive reshuffle gathering pace while the club push hard for Manchester City winger Savinho in a blockbuster attacking move.
Spence set for Inter switch
Spence is on the brink of swapping north London for San Siro. Sky Sports report Spurs have agreed a £30 million fee with Inter, including a 10 per cent sell-on clause, for the defender. ESPN add that the right-back has already landed in Milan and is set to sign a five-year contract as Inter’s replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who has joined Real Madrid.
Tottenham granted Spence permission to undergo his medical in Italy while talks were still being finalised between the clubs. The 26-year-old, who made 44 appearances for Spurs last season and impressed for England at the World Cup, looks set to bring his four-year stay in north London to an end.
Since arriving from Middlesbrough in 2022, Spence has played 85 times for Tottenham. His path is now blocked by Pedro Porro at right-back, while new signing Andy Robertson has arrived to compete with Destiny Udogie on the left. For Spurs, the timing to cash in is clear. For Inter, it is a direct response to losing a starting wing-back.
De Zerbi sets the tone: pride or goodbye
Behind the transfer noise, Roberto De Zerbi has been blunt about what he expects from his squad and where he wants Tottenham to go.
“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We need to create a clear playing style and give a soul to this team. If the results were lacking in previous years, it may well be because those elements were missing,” he told Sky Italia, underlining that identity comes before hype.
He wants Tottenham near the top of the Premier League and has made it clear he is planning for the long term, not a quick fling.
“The Premier League is very competitive, so many talk about ‘projects’, but very few manage to see them through. We want to be here for many years and take Tottenham back to the top of the table. It’s no guarantee that just having a good transfer campaign will be enough to immediately challenge with the top teams. We’ll see.”
His stance on the dressing room is just as uncompromising. During the club’s pre-season tour, he spelled out his conditions.
“I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham. I said ‘Who doesn’t want to stay in Tottenham, who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave’,” De Zerbi said. “I want proud players who are happy to stay here and to go on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium with a big motivation. If you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference. The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team.”
Then came the message on the market.
“I think the top clubs now, they are not worried about selling players. No. Even Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, when they have to sell, they have to sell. Right price, you don’t have to be shy. But when you have to spend money, you have to do that. Strong, fast, quickly, the right player, the right investment.”
Spence’s expected departure and Cristian Romero’s looming move to Atletico Madrid for relatively modest fees fit that philosophy: move on those who are not central to the project, then strike hard for the right additions.
Savinho saga: agreement with player, stand-off with City
The big swing in attack is Savinho. Tottenham have been circling the Manchester City winger all summer and are now testing City’s resolve with a huge offer.
Brazilian outlet Globo report Spurs have submitted an £85 million bid for the 22-year-old, a figure said to match City’s asking price from the start of negotiations. Savinho did not train on Thursday, adding another layer of intrigue as talks rumble on.
There had been suggestions Spurs had already reached an agreement with City, but transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano insists the clubs are still apart on the fee. The player, though, has made his position clear.
“Savinho wants to go to Tottenham,” Romano said on his YouTube channel. “Savinho has an agreement with Tottenham on personal terms. Savinho is waiting and hoping Manchester City and Tottenham reach an agreement.”
He added: “We also have to respect Man City, and Man City as of today are still not giving the green light for a Savinho transfer. At the moment, Manchester City are not accepting Tottenham’s bid. The negotiations continue, talks continue, but Savinho has a clear desire: He wants to be a Tottenham player.”
Tottenham’s interest is no secret. football.london understand the club have already held talks with City over a potential fee for the winger, whose contract runs until 2031. Earlier in the window, his price had been mooted at around £60m. The current bid, if accepted, would be a statement of intent and a decisive answer to De Zerbi’s call for “the right player, the right investment”.
Attack under construction
Savinho is not the only forward on Tottenham’s radar. Spurs have been linked with Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, the former Napoli star, as part of a broader attacking overhaul. Several other attacking targets are also being monitored as De Zerbi looks to sharpen a side that has already been heavily backed after securing Premier League safety.
The club’s “dream line-up” for the coming season is starting to take shape on paper: Porro and Robertson flanking a remodelled defence, a new-look frontline potentially led by Savinho and, if Spurs get their way, another marquee forward.
The question now is whether Tottenham can turn aggressive recruitment and ruthless exits into what De Zerbi keeps demanding: a team with a clear style, a defined soul, and the edge to live at the top of the table rather than just glance at it from below.
