Inter Milan Close in on Djed Spence as Spurs Pursue Savinho
Inter Milan are closing in on Djed Spence after striking a deal with Tottenham, as Spurs juggle major outgoings, a record bid for Savinho and Roberto De Zerbi’s demand for a squad built on pride as much as talent.
Spence set for Inter switch
Inter have reportedly agreed a deal with Tottenham for defender Djed Spence, with Sky Sports claiming the fee stands at around £30 million and includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
Spence has already been given permission to undergo his medical in Italy while the two clubs finalise the details. ESPN report he has landed in Milan and is set to sign a five-year contract as Inter’s replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who earlier completed a move to Real Madrid.
The 26-year-old is coming off a heavy workload at Spurs, where he made 44 appearances last season before starring for England at the World Cup. Since joining from Middlesbrough in 2022, he has played 85 times for the north London club.
Tottenham, though, have moved on in the full-back areas. Pedro Porro is now established as first-choice right-back, while new signing Andy Robertson will compete with Destiny Udogie on the left. Spence’s path to regular minutes had narrowed.
The solution lies in Milan.
De Zerbi’s demand: pride or goodbye
As players move out and targets line up, Roberto De Zerbi has been blunt about what he wants Tottenham to become.
Speaking to Sky Italia, the Spurs head coach set out both his ambition and his warning.
“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We need to create a clear playing style and give a soul to this team. If the results were lacking in previous years, it may well be because those elements were missing,” he said.
He wants Tottenham back near the summit, but he is under no illusions about the scale of the task.
“The Premier League is very competitive, so many talk about ‘projects’, but very few manage to see them through. We want to be here for many years and take Tottenham back to the top of the table. It’s no guarantee that just having a good transfer campaign will be enough to immediately challenge with the top teams. We’ll see.”
That theme continued on the club’s pre-season tour, where De Zerbi underlined the importance of timing in the transfer market and the mentality of those who stay.
“I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham. I said ‘Who doesn’t want to stay in Tottenham, who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave’,” he explained. “I want proud players who are happy to stay here and to go on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium with a big motivation. If you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference. The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team.”
Then came the line that could define this window.
“I think the top clubs now, they are not worried about selling players. No. Even Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, when they have to sell, they have to sell. Right price, you don’t have to be shy. But when you have to spend money, you have to do that. Strong, fast, quickly, the right player, the right investment.”
Spence is one of those “right price” exits. Cristian Romero, too, is expected to complete a relatively low-cost move to Atletico Madrid. Tottenham are trimming, but they are also preparing to strike.
Savinho: Spurs push, City hold
At the top of the in-tray sits Savinho.
Spurs have been heavily linked with the Manchester City winger all summer. Brazilian outlet Globo now claims Tottenham have tabled an £85 million bid for the 22-year-old, matching what is reported to have been City’s asking price since talks began. Savinho did not take part in training on Thursday.
The numbers have climbed sharply. Earlier in the window, the price tag was widely reported to be closer to £60 million. football.london understands Tottenham are indeed keen on the Brazilian, whose contract runs until 2031, and have already held talks with City over a potential fee.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano says the clubs are still some way from an agreement, even if the player’s mind is made up.
“Savinho wants to go to Tottenham,” Romano said on his YouTube channel. “Savinho has an agreement with Tottenham on personal terms. Savinho is waiting and hoping Manchester City and Tottenham reach an agreement.”
The winger’s desire is clear, but City’s stance is just as firm for now.
“We also have to respect Man City, and Man City as of today are still not giving the green light for a Savinho transfer. At the moment, Manchester City are not accepting Tottenham’s bid. The negotiations continue, talks continue, but Savinho has a clear desire: He wants to be a Tottenham player.”
So the forward waits, Spurs push, and City hold their ground.
Big backing, bigger expectations
Tottenham have already heavily backed De Zerbi after he steered the club to Premier League safety last season. A rush of new signings has arrived, with more expected before the window closes.
One of the most eye-catching names on the radar is Victor Osimhen. Spurs have been linked with a move for the Galatasaray striker, the former Napoli star seen as a potential headline addition to De Zerbi’s attack. The club are also understood to be exploring several other attacking options as part of a broader overhaul.
The dream line-ups are already being sketched out: Savinho cutting in from the flank, Osimhen leading the line, a refreshed back line without Spence and Romero but with De Zerbi’s stamp all over it.
For now, though, the reality is more prosaic. Deals to complete. Fees to agree. Players to move on.
Spence’s exit to Inter is almost done. Savinho’s arrival depends on Manchester City blinking. De Zerbi has made his demands. The question is whether Tottenham can turn this noisy, expensive summer into the kind of team that really does “have a soul” – and stays near the top of the table, not just in the headlines.
