According to numerous outlets, including Sky Sports, Arsenal are interested in Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence.
The Gunners’ interest in Spence came to light after his performance against the London club in the FA Cup, and the right-back’s good form in that competition hasn’t stopped there.
Indeed, Spence was again brilliant this month as Forest hammered Leicester City 4-1, and it looks as though the 21-year-old’s FA Cup antics could earn him a big-money move.
We’ve seen players earn big moves off the back of international tournaments on countless occasions, but getting a move after an FA Cup run is something of a rarity, especially at the top level.
In the lower leagues, we’ve seen the likes of Matt Smith and Sean Raggett earn decent moves after solid showings with Oldham and Lincoln respectively, but these days, you hardly ever see a ‘big six’ club sign someone off the back of a cup run.
However, on the rare occasions that it has happened, these transfers have been somewhat successful.
Perhaps the most notable recent example was Dele Alli joining Spurs after shining against Manchester United in a 4-0 win in the League Cup in 2014, while Arsenal have experience in this market themselves, signing Aaron Ramsey after he orchestrated an incredible run to the FA Cup final for Cardiff City back in 2008.
Signing players off the back of international tournaments doesn’t always work, but these young players who shine in domestic cup competitions can often go on to become bona fide stars.
Spence has looked absolutely brilliant against both Arsenal and Leicester now, and 14 years on from signing Ramsey off the back of an FA Cup run, the Gunners could be about to repeat the trick.
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