In an ideal world, Manchester United would be looking to sign both a right-back and left-back this summer.
United’s problems down the left are well known, with Luke Shaw their only senior specialist in that position, now that Tyrell Malacia has departed and INEOS are considering selling Harry Amass.
On the right, Michael Carrick currently has Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui. However, the Moroccan has been linked with a surprise exit to reunite with former boss Ruben Amorim at AC Milan.
With funds tight and the club prioritising a midfielder above all else, the Red Devils could solve this conundrum by bringing in a versatile option at the back.
Djed Spence is a versatile option for United
Currently, United’s focus seems to be on Lewis Hall, but their pursuit is complicated by Newcastle’s attempts at holding on to the 21-year-old and Chelsea’s entry into the race.
This is why the 20-time English league champions are looking beyond the England international, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence emerging on their radar.
The Englishman enjoyed a stellar World Cup with the Three Lions and, most importantly, can play on either the right or the left of the defence.
The 25-year-old reportedly has a £40 million price tag on his head, much less than what the Magpies would demand for Hall.
Spurs looking to persuade Djed Spence to stay
However, there is one problem. Journalist Ekrem Konur has revealed that new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi is trying to persuade the former Middlesbrough ace to stay in North London.
The Italian is willing to make him central to his plans and so far, a decision is yet to be taken, with United and Inter Milan keen on a deal.
“Manchester United and Inter are interested in Djed Spence. Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi is trying to convince him to stay.
“Spence has been told he is part of next season’s plans,” Konur wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
United ready to pounce in case player wants to leave
The Nerazzurri cannot afford Spurs’ asking price, which means, should United genuinely be interested, a move would be straightforward to complete.
However, Spurs will likely resist a sale to a direct rival, even if the player, who is a United fan, pushes to join.
The Peoples Person Reliability AssessmentOverall credibility: 5/10Why?
Reported by a journalist with a poor Manchester United track record. Spurs are unlikely to sell to a direct rival
Multiple outlets have talked about United’s interest in the player. The player would be a decent fit for United’s tactical demands given his versatility.TPP viewWe believe Manchester United do have the player on their list of targets, but he is well down the pecking order. Spurs will also look to push for a foreign sale rather than strengthening a domestic rival.
Feature image Buda Mendes via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Ayantan Chowdhury
After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently the Deputy Managing Editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
