Defender Djed Spence’s list of admirers continues to grow amid his impressive season on loan at Nottingham Forest.
There is likely to be no shortage of interest in the Middlesbrough right-back - both on these shores and abroad - come the summer, and another Premier League heavyweight is said to be eyeing him up.
Tottenham Hotspur were reported to have had two bids for Spence turned down in the January transfer window, while Arsenal, Leeds United, Brentford, Southampton, Roma and Inter Milan have also been linked with the youngster.
Now Liverpool are reportedly “being touted as potential suitors”, according to the Northern Echo.
The Gunners are said to be “expected to push” to sign him, while Spurs have the 21-year-old “in a prominent position on their wanted list” as a £15m price tag is touted.
Spence has been in fine form for the Reds, becoming one of the first names on the team-sheet and playing a key role as Steve Cooper’s side have climbed the Championship table.
He has racked up 27 appearances in the Garibaldi and scored two goals; added to that, his link-up with Brennan Johnson down the right flank has caused opposition defences plenty of problems.
Head coach Cooper previously brushed off any suggestion that the youngster might be affected by speculation about his future.
“I’m not sure how much of it is true. And if it is, it’s not going to be information which comes to us because we’re not his parent club,” he said.
“I’m not sure if any of it is true. It might be, it might not.
“He’s a really good young guy, and we’re trying to work with him in getting the best out of himself. If he does that, then we’re all benefitting.
“He’s had some good moments for us and some good periods of how he’s played.
“But as I’ve told him and many others, you don’t want to be good for half a season. You need to make sure you put a full one together - that’s when you start thinking about being an established player.
“It’s maybe not even just a season, it’s a period when you’re at a club. You want to look back and go, ‘Yeah, I worked hard, I did my best and I made sure I was as successful as I could be’.”
