Djed Spence Transfer to Inter Milan as Spurs Reshape Under De Zerbi

Inter Milan are closing on a deal for Djed Spence, with Tottenham’s summer rebuild gathering pace on and off the pitch.

Sky Sports report that Spurs have agreed a £30 million fee with the Italian giants for the defender, with a 10 per cent sell-on clause included in the package. Spence has already been granted permission to travel to Italy for his medical while the final details of the move 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, according to ESPN. Inter view him as the direct replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who has joined Real Madrid.

Spence’s departure will end a spell in north London that began in 2022 when he arrived from Middlesbrough. He has played 85 times for Spurs, but with Pedro Porro established as first-choice right-back and new signing Andy Robertson arriving to compete with Destiny Udogie on the opposite flank, Tottenham are trimming a crowded defensive department.

De Zerbi’s message: stay proud or leave

The exits fit squarely with Roberto De Zerbi’s blunt stance on the dressing room. The Italian has been backed heavily since steering Spurs to Premier League safety, but he has made it clear that sentiment will not dictate selection or squad planning.

“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 told Sky Italia during pre-season. “I want proud players who are happy to stay here and to go on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium with a big motivation.”

For De Zerbi, that ruthlessness extends to the transfer 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.”

Cristian Romero is also expected to leave for Atletico Madrid for a relatively low fee, underlining the scale of the reshaping underway.

Ambition at the top, caution in the climb

De Zerbi has not hidden his ambition. He wants Tottenham to be back near the top of the Premier League and intends to stay for the long haul, but he has repeatedly warned against confusing transfer buzz with actual progress.

“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 said.

“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.”

Savinho saga: desire clear, deal not yet

On the incoming side, the headline pursuit is Manchester City winger Savinho.

Tottenham have been heavily linked with the Brazilian throughout the summer. Globo in Brazil claim Spurs have now tabled an £85 million offer for the 22-year-old, a figure said to match City’s asking price since talks began. Savinho did not train on Thursday as speculation intensified.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, though, insists a fee is still not agreed. He reports that Savinho has already settled personal terms with Spurs and wants the move.

“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 that City have yet to give the green light.

“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.”

football.london also report that Tottenham are keen on the winger, whose contract at City runs until 2031, and have held talks over a potential fee. Earlier in the window, his price had been suggested at around £60m; the latest reported offer underlines just how far Spurs are prepared to go to reshape their attack.

Osimhen and the attacking overhaul

Savinho is not the only forward on the radar. Spurs have been linked with Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, the former Napoli star, as De Zerbi looks to overhaul his frontline options. The club are also said to be tracking several other attacking targets as they try to build a squad capable of matching their manager’s demands.

The pressure to get it right is obvious. Spurs have brought in an influx of new faces, but De Zerbi keeps returning to the same theme: identity before hype, structure before slogans.

He has the backing. He has the power to sell. Big bids are on the table for elite talent.

Now, with Spence heading for Milan and Savinho waiting on City’s word, Tottenham’s next moves will show whether this “project” is just another Premier League buzzword or the start of something that genuinely drags them back towards the summit.