Kevin Hatchard has stated that there is ‘political play’ from Antonio Conte regarding his treatment of Djed Spence at Tottenham Hotspur.
The European football expert pointed out that Conte does ‘take a while’ to teach his players his system, but given Spence’s situation months into signing for the club, then ‘alarm bells’ must be ringing.
The 22-year-old, who had just helped Nottingham Forest earn promotion to the Premier League whilst on-loan, moved to the London club from Middlesbrough for £20 million (Sky Sports).
But fast forward to the present and Spence is yet to start a game for Spurs, or earn more than half an hour during a single match, which ironically came against Forest in the League Cup.
In total, Conte has three right-sided wing-backs to choose from, alongside Spence – Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal, with both players struggling, yet Spence still can’t earn game time.
Hatchard shared his thoughts on Spence’s situation and whether or not Conte wanted the player in the first place, as he told Transfer Talk on Sky Sports.
“With the Djed Spence situation, it seems to me like a political play from Conte,” said Hatchard. “I don’t know the exact politics of that move, but it feels to me, that’s either a move he didn’t sign off on or a move that was driven elsewhere.
“He does take a while to teach players the system. If he doesn’t trust players, then he won’t play them. But for him to be on the sidelines as much as he has been, then that rings alarm bells for me.
“One wonders, whilst Conte is there, is he going to develop? How much is he going to play? He is clearly a good player.”
SPENCE SITUATION HELPS NOBODY
There aren’t any winners in this Spence saga, whether or not Conte wanted him, and in truth, it seems like he didn’t.
Tottenham are losing out from a financial perspective and they might have to add right wing-back number three to their books just to make amends, with links to Sporting Lisbon star Pedro Porro.
Conte is losing out on the pitch, with his Spurs side struggling, most recently losing 2-0 to north London rivals Arsenal.
And the player himself, who was riding a wave over the summer and progressing in great strides, has now hit a stumbling block and he will need to pick himself back up.
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