Neil Warnock had shared that Tottenham’s potential incoming signing, Djed Spence, ‘had a go at me’ when they were both at Middlesbrough after they had ‘one or two run-ins’.
The former Premier League boss warned that Spence is someone who ‘won’t be able to play in a four’ at the highest level, but thinks the ‘penny has finally dropped’ ahead of his move to Tottenham.
When Warnock was at Boro, he loaned out Spence to fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest after the two didn’t seemingly get along.
Little did Warnock know that soon after letting Spence leave for the City Ground, he would get sacked from the job and Spence would go on to win promotion to the Premier League in the colours of Forest.
Warnock shared on talkSPORT that he told Spence that he will, either end up in non-league or the Premier League, well there’s only one place he is headed now.
“I had one or two run-ins with Djed, as managers do,” said Warnock. “I had two chats with him. He had a bit of a go at me.
“I am glad to see that the penny dropped because, like I said to him face-to-face, it could go either way. He could end up playing at Bromley next year or be in the Premier League. And he is in the Premier League, so good luck to him.
“I think he has to be going forward. He has to be that wing-back. He wouldn’t be able to play in a four, I don’t think, at that level.
“But going forward, he is exciting, he is a young lad, the penny has dropped and I don’t think you get much better than that going forward. Conte won’t stand for anything, so it might be just what he needs, a tough guy like that.
“I think so (his weakness being positional play when defending), but I don’t think he has had to do it really. I think in a five he is different. He would be a good squad player.”
TOTTENHAM CLOSING IN ON SPENCE
Daniel Levy has had his critics over the years, well especially towards the end of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign and after his exit.
But with Antonio Conte in the dugout, the Italian is well and truly being backed, including the incoming transfer of Spence.
The 21-year-old played as a wing-back for the forward-thinking Steve Cooper, so that position in itself isn’t alien to the player.
But Spence is joining a side in the Champions League and one that is pushing for honours right at the top of English football.
So, it’s going to be a different kettle of fish for the rising star, who will now challenge Emerson Royal for a first-team spot.
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