Arsenal are eyeing a potential January move for Nottingham Forest’s on-loan Djed Spence.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are interested in signing Djed Spence from Middlesbrough in the January transfer window, according to The Mirror.
Spence played a key role in Forest’s 1-0 FA Cup victory over Arsenal last weekend and Arsenal were impressed with his contribution as they weigh up a potential transfer.
Djed Spence of Nottingham Forest runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Kieran Tierney of Arsenal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal (Getty Images)
Italian giants Roma and Inter Milan are also watching developments closely as the 21-year-old has caught the eye with his recent performances
Middlesbrough value Spence at £10 million, according to the report, which has added that Arsenal would have to loan back the youngster because he has already played for Boro and Forest this season
Wright is a huge fan of the full-back, and revealed he approached Spence after Forest’s third round win over Arsenal to praise his performance.
“I saw him after the game and said ‘listen, my friend. You’re on loan from Middlesbrough and I don’t know what’s happened there, because if you can’t get into the Middlesbrough side, I don’t know what’s wrong, so I need to know the full story’,” he said on the Wrighty’s House podcast
“But let me say, that was one of the best right back performances I have seen for a very long time. A very long time.”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.
“I said to him afterwards, ‘whatever’s happening, whatever you’re doing, the level you’ve just shown us here is the level you have to be consistently hitting
Would Djed Spence make Arsenal better?
Djed Spence caught the eye on Sunday evening when he put in a man of the match performance to help Nottingham Forest beat Arsenal in the FA Cup.
(Getty Images)
Lewis Grabban was the hero, netting the 83rd-minute winner against Mikel Arteta’s side, but it was Spence who caught the eye and earned the plaudits for his display at right-back.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is the first-choice right-back at Arsenal at the moment, and that is not going to change anytime soon.
However, with Hector Bellerin likely to leave after his loan spell at Real Betis at the end of the season, and Cedric Soares hasn’t proved enough to be a cover after his shambolic display against Forest.
Arsenal could do with a younger right-back as cover, and Spence does fit the bill.
Interestingly, this is the not the first time that Spence has been linked with a move to a North London club.
Mourinho is now the head coach of Roma, and based on the report in The Mirror, it seems that he is still keen on the 21-year-old English right-back.
In our view, Spence would be a good signing for Arsenal in the January transfer window, especially for £10 million.
Now, of course, the youngster will not be available for the Gunners right now, but from next season onwards he would be an option for manager Arteta.