Tottenham Hotspur have another reason to hold firm over Djed Spence after the defender strengthened his transfer value during England’s remarkable 6-4 victory over France.
Spence completed 90 minutes as Thomas Tuchel’s side secured third place at the World Cup in Miami. The Tottenham full-back defended against a France attack containing Kylian Mbappe, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise before winning England’s late penalty.
Malo Gusto brought Spence down following a determined run into the area. Bukayo Saka converted the spot-kick to complete his hat-trick and restore England’s two-goal advantage.
The performance arrived while Inter Milan continue to explore a summer move for the 25-year-old. Tottenham should have little interest in accepting the Italian club’s reported valuation after Spence proved himself against leading international opposition.
Spence delivers another complete England display
According to FotMob’s match data, Spence earned a 7.1 rating after completing 86 per cent of his passes and winning 10 of his 15 ground duels.
He recorded five tackles, three clearances and one interception. Spence also completed three of his four dribbles and was not beaten by an opponent during the match.
Those numbers reflect an impressive all-round performance. France placed England under sustained pressure during the second half, with Mbappe scoring twice as Didier Deschamps’ side recovered from a 4-0 half-time deficit.
Spence still offered an outlet when England regained possession. His willingness to carry the ball forward created the penalty which allowed Saka to complete his hat-trick.
His World Cup contribution was not limited to one game. Spence also performed well during England’s semi-final defeat by Argentina and made an energetic impact from the bench against Norway.
Inter offer falls short of Spence’s growing value
ReadTottenham previously covered Inter’s ongoing discussions with Spurs, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Spence is the Serie A club’s leading right wing-back target.
Tottenham reportedly value the defender at around £40m. Inter’s expectations remain considerably lower, creating a substantial gap between the clubs.
SpursWeb reported that Inter are working with a figure of approximately €25m to €30m, worth around £21m to £26m. Liverpool and Everton have also been credited with interest.
That proposed range already appeared low for an English, home-grown and Premier League-proven full-back. Spence’s World Cup performances have further weakened Inter’s negotiating position.
He has demonstrated the athleticism needed to compete against elite attackers while also offering progression in possession. His ability to play on either side adds further value for Tottenham or any potential buyer.
A deal below £30m would fail to reflect those qualities or the recent rise in his profile.
De Zerbi still faces a difficult decision
Tottenham’s previous assessment of the valuation gap highlighted the wider decision facing Roberto De Zerbi.
Pedro Porro remains the leading option at right-back, while Destiny Udogie and Andy Robertson can operate on the left. Spence may therefore worry about receiving enough regular minutes next season.
However, his versatility gives De Zerbi valuable cover across both sides. Selling him would leave Spurs needing another defender capable of meeting the Premier League’s physical demands.
Tottenham do not need to block Spence’s departure at any price. A fee close to £40m could help fund the next stage of the rebuild and allow the player to secure a more prominent role.
Inter must pay for the player Spence has become rather than the one who struggled for opportunities after arriving from Middlesbrough.
His display against France strengthened Tottenham’s hand. Spurs should either retain a valuable full-back or demand a premium fee for allowing him to leave.
