Liverpool join Arsenal in Djed Spence pursuit

Liverpool have reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign Championship hotshot Djed Spence in the summer transfer window.

According to Fichajes, Liverpool are the latest club to join Arsenal in the pursuit of Middlesbrough starlet Djed Spence, who is currently shining on loan at Nottingham Forest.

Spence joined the Boro academy in 2018 and had his breakthrough campaign in the Championship in the 2019/20 season. But the youngster was deemed surplus to requirements at the Riverside Stadium and was subsequently loaned to Nottingham Forest ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

The right-back has been proven to be a revelation at the City Ground and has been one of the major driving forces behind Forest’s resurgence under Steve Cooper this term, contributing in both attacking and defensive phases of the game as the Reds chase a play-off spot.

Regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the whole of the Football League, he has made 33 appearances for the Reds across all competitions so far, registering two goals and three assists. Spence has, in particular, grabbed the limelight in the FA Cup, thanks to his stand-out performances against Arsenal and Leicester City.

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Spence’s rapid progression has not gone unnoticed. Tottenham made an attempt to sign him on deadline day during the January transfer window. However, his stock has only risen since then, with the 21-year-old now being courted by multiple Premier League clubs, including Arsenal.

Premier League title-chasers Liverpool have also joined the queue of suitors vying for his signature. With Neco Williams expected to leave Anfield on a permanent basis in the summer and Conor Bradley still very inexperienced, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will require a new understudy for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Spence, who is capable of playing anywhere down the right flank and boasts a real attacking threat, would undoubtedly be suited to Klopp’s demands from his full-backs. That said, with Alexander-Arnold performing at such a high level, the youngster would be deprived of minutes, which makes a switch to Anfield a complicated one.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have had him on their radar ever since they fell to a 1-0 FA Cup defeat against Forest in January. With Cedric Soares closing in on a potential summer exit, manager Mikel Arteta could be on the lookout for a backup for Takehiro Tomiyasu. Spence, 21, fits the profile with his versatility and could offer a different option to the defensive-minded Tomiyasu, owing to his pace and attacking prowess.

Aside from Arsenal and Liverpool, Tottenham also retain their interest in the dynamic full-back. His impressive displays have attracted a lot of eyeballs on the continent, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich scouting him extensively. Other German clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig are also keeping track of the youngster’s development.

The 21-year-old is under contract at Boro until 2024, with the Teesside club cleverly ensuring that he penned fresh terms before heading to Forest on loan. With interest from elite clubs heating up, the Championship club are likely to demand a fee in the region of €15-20 million for their prized asset.