‘People have told me this’: Journalist says Spurs wouldn’t have signed ace if Conte wasn’t boss

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Alasdair Gold has been discussing Tottenham’s signing of Djed Spence this summer.

The north London outfit made Spence their sixth signing of this transfer window last week, and it has since emerged that this signing was pushed through by the club rather than Antonio Conte.

The manager himself has stated that it was a club signing, but according to Gold, this transfer was done with the gaffer in mind.

Indeed, according to Gold, Spurs wouldn’t have signed Spence under any other manager, claiming that he was signed because the higher-ups at Spurs feel that he ticks all of the boxes for a Conte wing-back.

What’s been said?

Gold spoke about the signing of Spence.

“You’ll be fully aware that Conte said that Spence was a club signing, but it was one that he greenlit because he believes he’s shown he can be an important player.

“Interestingly, I heard from the other side of things that the club wouldn’t normally have signed Spence for previous managers at Tottenham. There was a feeling that Spence ticks all of the boxes for a Conte wing-back, which I found quite interesting.

“A lot of people think a club signing means it’s been forced upon him, but Antonio Conte doesn’t get anyone forced upon him.”

“I found that fascinating in that Spurs have very much done something for Conte there, when we say it’s a club signing, but everything I hear, and three people have told me this, he’s not a signing they would’ve made under previous managers.”

Long-term project

If Tottenham have signed Spence with Conte in mind, you have to feel that they want the Italian to build a long-term project at the club.

Spence is, of course, only 21 years old, and he’s not going to hit his peak for a few years yet. After all, he’s yet to play a single Premier League game.

Conte’s contract is up at the end of this season, but if Tottenham are signing youngsters for his system, then the club must be keen to keep the Italian on beyond the length of his initial deal.

Spence may not have been Conte’s signing, but the fact that he’s brought in with the manager in mind would suggest that Tottenham want their gaffer to stick around for a little while longer.