According to Football.London, former Tottenham Hotspur defender Pascal Chimbonda reportedly mentioned that Djed Spence should be sent out on loan considering his struggles with finding enough game time in the squad. It is understood that Antonio Conte has struggled to find his first choice at the right-back position but Spence falls well below the pecking order.
Spence’s Numbers For Tottenham Hotspur This Season
The young talent had a decent campaign with Middlesbrough in the EFL Championship last season when he found the back of the net twice and produced five assists as he made 42 league appearances. However, he has struggled to make a decent appearance with Spurs so far as he only made three cameo appearances for the Lilywhites.
Spence performed consistently on both ends last season as he averaged 1.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 1.4 clearances, 0.6 shots, 1.0 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game in the English Championship. He was tidy when distributing the ball from the right-back position after completing 76.1% of his attempted passes in the second division of English football but the outcast has hardly been on the pitch in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Should Conte Let Him Exit On Loan?
The young right-back has the potential to become one of the best in Europe. He excels at getting past his markers and delivering crosses from wide areas. The London-born talent can make a few dangerous runs down the right flank and stretch the opposition’s backline to create space for his attackers. Furthermore, he contributes heavily to the defence as he can make some crucial interceptions and time his tackles well to win the ball back for his side.
The 22-year-old needs to be on the pitch to develop further and grow to his full potential. Conte should think of handing him more minutes if he wishes to keep him at North London to maintain the squad depth. However, if he decides to not utilise his abilities in the foreseeable future, a loan move in January could benefit both parties. Spence is a long-term prospect for the club and they would certainly benefit from the experience he gains when he goes out on loan.
