Middlesbrough to benefit from Djed Spence Tottenham to Inter transfer

The Italian giants are in advanced talks to sign the England international full-back with Spence now said to be awaiting permission to travel to Milan to finalise the move.

There are different reports on the fee as things stand, but it's said Spurs will receive a minimum of £25.6m and the deal could rise to £30m.

And a portion of that fee will head Boro's way.

It's understood Boro included a sell-on clause in the deal that took Spence to Tottenham from the Riverside in 2022. It's believed Boro are in line to receive 15% of the profit Tottenham make having already benefited from several add-ons in a deal that totalled around £20m.

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Hayden Hackney hails two key Middlesbrough figures after Everton summer transfer
• Boro absence explained amid mounting transfer speculation over midfielder
• Kim Hellberg hints at transfer decision U-turn over versatile member of Boro squad

Spence playing in the Champions League for Spurs and playing competitively for England triggered add-on payments to Boro - who will now further benefit from the sale of the defender four years ago.

Tottenham's willingness to sell Spence has raised eyebrows, given the 26-year-old starred for England in the World Cup, has his best years ahead of him and still has three years to run on his contract in the capital.

But Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi is said to see Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie as his first choice full-backs this season and the Premier League club understand Spence's wish to be a regular starter. Andy Robertson has arrived from Liverpool this summer and Archie Gray can cover for Porro at right-back.

But with Spurs not playing any European football this season, De Zerbi won't be forced to rotate too much.

It's been quite the rollercoaster ride for Spence at Tottenham. After his arrival, then-boss Antonio Conte described Spence as a "club signing", which the defender later admitted "shattered" his confidence.

He had loan spells at Rennes, Leeds and Genoa and didn't make his full debut for Tottenham until two and a half years after his arrival.

He finally got his chance under Ange Postecoglou and went on to establish himself.

Spence showed flashes of what he was capable of during his time at Boro but he was inconsistent and questions were raised about his attitude.

Former boss Neil Warnock once said Spence was going to be "Premier League or non-league", which led to the defender tweeting a photo of himself with the play-off trophy while smoking a cigar, and tagging Warnock in it after he went up with Nottingham Forest.