Djed Spence admits he dreams of playing Premier League football as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur make contact with the £15 million Nottingham Forest loanee, speaking to The Mirror.
Of course, this does not necessarily mean the rampaging right-back is entering the final few weeks of his City Ground career.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham are looking to sign Spence this summer. But who’s to say the England U21 international cannot play top-flight football for the first time in his career while donning Garibaldi red?
After all, no Championship side have picked up more points in the last ten games than Nottingham Forest (21). Maintain this current form and the two-time European champions may be gracing the promised land again come August.
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“I always want to push myself and play with the best players and best team,” explains Spence, who was released by Fulham as a youngster and is now a transfer target for Bayern Munich.
“Of course, it’s an ambition of mine to play in the Premier League. I try to stay level-headed. I don’t read too much into it (the transfer rumours).
“At the end of the day, I’m just here to enjoy my football. I need to stay focused, have tunnel vision and play well on the pitch.”
Is Djed Spence heading to the Premier League?
It remains to be seen whether Nottingham Forest can sign Spence permanently in the summer window. One suspects, given his market value his soared to around £15 million in recent months, only promotion will make a long-term stay at the City Ground possible.
According to The Mirror (13 March, page 68), both Arsenal and Tottenham enquired about Spence’s availability a couple of weeks ago.
Reports linking the explosive, attack-minded 21-year-old with a move to North London will raise further questions regarding the futures of Emerson Royal, Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares.
“That was one of the best right back performances I have seen for a very long time. A very long time,” said a gobsmacked Ian Wright after Spence inspired Forest’s 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Arsenal in January.
“If we are talking about right-backs performing at an unbelievable level, we’re talking Reece James and Trent (Alexander-Arnold).
“But I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time.”
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