Spurs already have a Spence replacement who’s a “future £100m” player

When time ticked over to almost 4am and England were holding on against Mexico at the Azteca, Djed Spence’s cameo seemed more like that of a £100m player rather than someone who would seal his Tottenham Hotspur departure for just £27m a month later.

But, perhaps that was just the delusion of a sleepless night talking.

The reality is that many questioned Spence’s inclusion in Thomas Tuchel‘s squad.

This was a player coming fresh from a shock relegation battle with a top six club and certainly not someone who, on paper, outperformed the likes of Lewis Hall, Luke Shaw or Myles Lewis-Skelly. And whilst he proved those doubters wrong at the World Cup, similar concerns remained unanswered in North London.

Why Tottenham were right to cash in on Djed Spence

There’s no escaping the reality that Inter have secured a cheap deal.

In 2026, £27m for a Premier League full-back who is still just 26 years old is an undeniable bargain.

Once Spurs fans are over that price-tag, however, then they will realise that the sale was the right choice. The form that he showed for England in brief cameos did not reflect the defender that featured for Spurs and with Andy Robertson joining Pedro Porro on the flanks these days, there is little room for inconsistency.

The numbers do not make for pretty reading. At 32 years old and at a time when he’s considered to be past the peak of his powers, Robertson still outperformed Spence in some areas last season.

It’s a position which is certainly upgradeable in North London and Spence was always unlikely to be a long-term candidate. Instead, Roberto De Zerbi should turn towards another internal option to play the fullback role.

Tottenham already have a replacement for Spence

If any player is going to benefit from a full season under De Zerbi, it is Archie Gray.

The versatile youngster is the perfect match for the Italian, who values patience in possession combined with risk. With Spence heading for the exit door, the 20-year-old has his best chance since Ange Postecoglou’s reign to play a more important role.

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Having already spent around £200m this summer, Spurs do not have the return to the market to find another full-back. Gray almost took Leeds United to promotion in that very role during his last season at Elland Road, and can run back the years to thrive in North London.

The history of De Zerbi’s wide defenders suggests that they’ll be playing a key role this season. When the Italian’s Brighton side beat Tottenham 4-2 in the 2023/24 campaign, it was midfielder Jack Hinshelwood who lined up at right-back. De Zerbi often aimed to combine a flying full-back with a safe passer.

It’s the exact blueprint that he could use at Spurs to get the best out of Gray, whilst Porro takes the role of flying full-back. On that day, Hinshelwood ended the day with a goal to his name, three passes into the final third and was not dispossessed once. Now, Gray could be the one asked to play such a role.

The numbers are already similar, but Gray could exceed Hinshelwood’s performances from right-back, having already picked up plenty of experience in the role.

Hailed as a “future £100m” player by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Spurs must take full advantage of Gray’s potential before it’s too late. If the new head coach is going to place an emphasis on building from the back using ‘pausa’, then the 20-year-old should have an important role.

Spurs saw for themselves how effective that role can be when Hinshelwood dominated in the 23/24 campaign. Now, they could be the side that benefits most.