The number of Premier League sides said to be taking an interest in Nottingham Forest defender Djed Spence continues to rack up.
The on-loan Middlesbrough full-back is understood to have teams at home and abroad watching him closely following a string of standout displays.
And now Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur have been added to the list of potential suitors for Spence.
The Bees are “looking at a summer move” for the 21-year-old, according to 90min, while Sky Sports claim Spurs “are considering making a move this month”.
The latter are said to have been monitoring Spence for a number of seasons, and any deal “would see him remain at the City Ground for the rest of the campaign” because he has already represented two clubs this term.
Tottenham’s London rivals Arsenal have also been linked, after the right-back put in a man of the match performance against them as Forest triumphed in the FA Cup.
And Leeds United are said to have “enquired” about snapping up Spence during the January transfer window, while Southampton, Roma and Inter Milan have been mentioned, too.
At one stage it looked as though Boro would recall their player this month, but the terms of his deal were renegotiated and the decision was made to allow him to remain Trentside.
“I’ve watched him, and he’s doing well and he’s happy. He wants to stay there for the second half of the season. I know that’s not the be-all and end-all, and we have to make the decision that fits right by us,” said Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder.
“We’ve made the decision that Djed stays out there until the end of the season.
“Financially, we had the ability to improve the contract financially that benefited us, that allows us to maybe invest elsewhere and give us that opportunity to improve the standard of player we’re trying to get in to this football club by allowing Djed to go out.”
He added: “Djed wanted to stay at Nottingham Forest so I’ve got to think about the chemistry and the harmony of the changing room as well. Do I want an unhappy player here?
“And he would be. He’s made that perfectly clear to me, that he wants to stay there. I hope I’m not chucking him under the bus. I understand his position. It’s going well for him and he wants to continue that.”
