Djed Spence Transfer to Inter Milan Signals Tottenham Rebuild
Inter Milan are closing on Djed Spence after striking a deal with Tottenham in a move that underlines Roberto De Zerbi’s ruthless rebuild in north London.
Sky Sports report that Spurs have agreed a £30 million fee with the Italian club for the defender, with a 10 per cent sell-on clause included in the package. Spence has already been granted permission to undergo his medical in Italy while the final details are ironed out.
The 26-year-old, who made 44 appearances for Tottenham last season and then impressed for England at the World Cup, is set to sign a five-year contract at San Siro as Inter’s replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who has joined Real Madrid. ESPN add that Spence has now landed in Milan ahead of the move.
Since arriving from Middlesbrough in 2022, Spence has played 85 times for Spurs, but the landscape has shifted. Pedro Porro has nailed down the right-back role, while new signing Andy Robertson will battle Destiny Udogie on the left. There is no shortage of full-back options. Someone had to go.
De Zerbi’s demand: pride or the exit door
De Zerbi has been blunt about what he expects from his squad as he tries to drag Tottenham back towards the Premier League’s summit.
"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'," he said during the club’s pre-season tour. "I want proud players who are happy to stay here and to go on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium with a big motivation."
He pointed to the World Cup as proof that mentality matters as much as talent: "If you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference. The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team."
That stance frames more than just Spence’s exit. Cristian Romero is also set to complete a move to Atletico Madrid for what is described as a relatively low fee. De Zerbi, though, sees decisive sales as a hallmark of serious clubs.
"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."
“Give a soul to this team”
Tottenham have backed De Zerbi heavily after he steered them to Premier League safety, flooding the squad with new faces. He is not getting carried away.
"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.
He knows the scale of the task.
"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."
The message is simple: the rebuild has started, not finished.
Savinho saga: player pushing, City holding
One of the headline names in that rebuild could be Savinho. Or not, if Manchester City hold their ground.
Fabrizio Romano reports that while there is an agreement between Savinho and Spurs on personal terms, the two clubs have not yet settled on a fee. Negotiations are active, but City have not given the green light.
"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."
Brazilian outlet Globo claim Tottenham have now gone in at £85 million for the 22-year-old winger, a figure said to match City’s asking price since talks began. Savinho, whose contract runs until 2031, was not involved in training on Thursday.
Spurs have been strongly linked with him all summer, with earlier estimates putting his price closer to £60m. football.london understand Tottenham are indeed keen on the Brazilian and have already held talks with City over a potential deal.
For De Zerbi, Savinho would be a statement signing: young, explosive, and tailor-made for an aggressive, front-foot system. For City, he remains a valuable asset on a long contract. Something has to give.
Osimhen links and the attack De Zerbi wants
The hunt does not stop at the flanks. One more marquee arrival could yet be through the middle.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has been linked as a possible addition, with Tottenham reportedly tracking the former Napoli star. He is one of several attacking options under consideration as De Zerbi looks to overhaul his forward line before the new season.
Spurs have already sketched out what a “dream” XI might look like with their summer business, but the manager has been clear that a strong window on paper is not enough. He wants a team with identity, intensity, and, as he keeps repeating, soul.
That is why exits like Spence’s sit alongside record bids for Savinho. It is why Romero can be moved on while fresh investment arrives. Tottenham are trying to act like the clubs De Zerbi name-checked: decisive in the market, unapologetic when the time comes to sell, and aggressive when the right player appears.
Spence will soon be wearing Inter’s colours at San Siro. The bigger question is whether, by the time he kicks off in Serie A, Tottenham will have landed the winger who so clearly wants to wear theirs.
