Djed Spence's Transfer Battle: Liverpool vs Inter

Andoni Iraola has picked his first big fight in the transfer market as Liverpool manager – and it’s with Inter over a full-back who has finally worked out who he is.

Djed Spence, once shuffled around Europe on loan like an afterthought, is suddenly the defender everyone wants.

From fringe to focal point

For years, Spence’s career felt stuck in neutral. Rennes, Leeds United, Genoa – flashes of promise, no permanent home. Then came the back end of the 2025-26 season at Tottenham. Something clicked.

He finished the campaign strongly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, forcing his way into the picture and carrying that form onto the international stage with England. At 25, the right-back who had threatened to break through for so long finally looked ready to stay there.

That surge in form has changed everything. It has altered his value, his options, and the level of clubs now circling.

Iraola’s defensive puzzle

Liverpool, reshaping their backline under Iraola, have moved Spence towards the top of their list, according to reports. They are watching, waiting, and ready to move if the numbers make sense before the window shuts.

Iraola wants energy, aggression, and ambition from his full-backs. Spence, at his best, offers exactly that. The chance to work under a coach with that profile carries weight, and Liverpool know it.

But this is not a free run. Far from it.

De Zerbi’s hierarchy and Spurs’ stance

Spence’s situation at Tottenham remains tangled. Roberto De Zerbi, now in charge, is said to favour Pedro Porro and Andy Robertson as his primary full-back options. That pecking order leaves Spence in a familiar place: valuable, but not essential.

Tottenham, though, are under no pressure to blink first.

The defender signed a contract extension last August, tying him to the club until June 2028. That deal gives Spurs a firm hand at the negotiating table, and they intend to play it. They are described as open to a sale, but only if a suitable offer lands – in the region of £35 million.

After his value jumped over the summer, Spurs have no appetite to entertain a bargain.

Inter step on the gas

While Liverpool weigh their move, Inter have already accelerated.

The blue half of Milan has identified Spence as a priority to reinforce their full-back options. Denzel Dumfries has gone to Real Madrid, and Inter see Spence as the long-term answer in Cristian Chivu’s system.

Talks with the player’s representatives have already taken place. Inter’s hierarchy – Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio – are reportedly prepared to stretch their initial budget to win this race. Their fear is simple: wait too long, and his growing profile will only push the price higher.

This is not a casual enquiry. It is a serious, structured pursuit.

England exploits, club uncertainty

Spence’s performances for England have only sharpened the focus on his next move. He helped Gareth Southgate’s side secure third place at the World Cup, then was granted an extended holiday as the new Premier League season approached.

That break meant he missed Tottenham’s pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, sitting out games against Auckland FC, Sydney FC and others. While his team-mates tuned up for the campaign, his future remained suspended in the air.

Inside that gap lies opportunity – for Liverpool, for Inter, and perhaps for Spurs if an auction develops.

Heart in Italy, pull of Anfield

Spence has already sampled Serie A life with Genoa and left a strong impression. A return to Italy appeals to him, and that naturally boosts Inter’s hand.

Yet Liverpool is Liverpool. The pull of Anfield, the Premier League spotlight, the chance to work under Iraola in a side that wants to press high and play on the front foot – it all carries its own gravity.

The decision, if all three clubs align on a fee, will not be straightforward.

Tottenham hold the contract. Inter have made the early running. Liverpool hover, calculating their moment.

The deadline is closing in, the offers are hardening, and one of England’s most improved defenders stands on the edge of a move that could define the rest of his career.