Tottenham Hotspur 'receive bid' from Serie A side for unwanted defender with just 41 minutes played

Spurs owner Daniel Levy had particularly high hopes for right-back Djed Spence, who rose to prominence in the 2021-22 season at Nottingham Forest on loan from Championship outfit Middlesbrough.

Spence played a fundamental role in the Tricky Trees' promotion to the Premier League, and Tottenham fended off the threat of North London rivals Arsenal to capture his services in a £12.4m deal.

However, the 23-year-old quickly found game time hard to come by under Antonio Conte, who offered him just 41 minutes from six substitute appearances in the first half of his debut Tottenham campaign.

Spence subsequently spent the remainder of the season on loan with Ligue 1 outfit Rennes and has since enjoyed another two temporary stints away from North London, firstly failing to make the grade at Leeds United and also struggling with injuries.

Genoa 'make formal bid' for Spence

The ex-Middlesbrough man experienced slightly better fortunes with Serie A outfit Genoa, though, making 16 Serie A appearances - eight of them starts - albeit while failing to provide a goal or assist.

Spence's loan deal with Genoa includes an option to buy, and even though the defender is under contract with Tottenham until the summer of 2027, he is not in Ange Postecoglou's plans moving forward either.

Rather than triggering their option to make his deal permanent outright, Fabrizio Romano claims that Genoa have instead come forward with a "formal" bid for the Englishman's services.

Talks between the two clubs are now in full swing, and it will be down to Tottenham to make the final call on the future of Spence, who has never made a competitive start for the Lilywhites.

The former England Under-21 international is already behind Emerson Royal and Pedro Porro in Spurs' right-back pecking order, although the former is also being tipped to leave amid links with AC Milan.

Spence could be one of 12 Tottenham exits this summer

After last season's quest for Champions League qualification ended in failure, Tottenham boss Postecoglou is supposedly happy to sever ties with as many as 12 current first-team players, excluding January departures Eric Dier and Ivan Perisic.

The Lilywhites have already confirmed that Ryan Sessegnon and Japhet Tanganga will officially leave as free agents at the end of the month, while record signing Tanguy Ndombele has had his contract terminated.

Focus now turns to selling a host of unwanted stars, and Brazilian attacker Richarlison could be Tottenham's marquee exit; Spurs are seeking attacking reinforcements and are said to be open to bids for the ex-Everton man.

Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso are in the same boat, as are Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Sergio Reguilon and Joe Rodon, the latter two of whom spent the 2023-24 season away from Tottenham on loan.