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Inter are moving into the closing stages of an agreement to sign Tottenham Hotspur wing-back Djed Spence for San Siro as a straight replacement for Denzel Dumfries. The England international has become the top target for the Nerazzurri leadership, who want to complete the transfer before the new Serie A season begins.

Nerazzurri step up chase for Tottenham defender

Inter have now made their push for Spence, with the Tottenham and England international firmly on the Nerazzurri radar. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, talks between the two clubs have accelerated sharply in the last few hours, taking both sides closer to a full agreement that would send the 26-year-old to Milan. The transfer is expected to be completed for a fee of around €30 million, plus bonuses linked to performances. Unless there is a late hitch, Spence is set to replace Denzel Dumfries, who has joined Real Madrid, and in doing so fill the final remaining gap in Cristian Chivu’s squad structure as the club prepares for a title push.

That said, supporters may need to wait a little before seeing the defender in competitive action. Like his fellow countryman John Stones, who opened the door for English talent at the club, Spence has only just returned to training after an extended break following his campaign with the Three Lions at the World Cup.

Tactical edge over other targets

Inter never really cooled their interest in Spence, even though they looked at other possibilities during the summer transfer window. The club had been waiting for Tottenham to reduce their original €40 million asking price and for manager Roberto De Zerbi to approve the sale. During that time, chairman Beppe Marotta and sporting director Piero Ausilio also explored the availability of Moussa Diaby, the French winger currently playing in the United Arab Emirates. But a move for Diaby was complicated by several factors, including the player’s high wage demands and the difficulty of negotiating with Al-Ittihad.

Importantly, Inter’s technical staff do not see Spence as a fallback or a "Plan B". On the contrary, from both a tactical and physical standpoint, he is viewed as a better fit than Diaby for the specific demands of the wing-back position.

The Luis Henrique and Roma situation

Inter’s pursuit of Spence remains the priority irrespective of what happens with Luis Henrique’s future. AS Roma are said to be preparing to test Inter’s stance with a major bid for the Brazilian, with figures between €25 million and €30 million under discussion. That is a sizeable amount and one the Inter directors are currently assessing. However, Luis Henrique appears to be a profile who has not completely convinced Gian Piero Gasperini, should he be involved in future structural changes, and the club is still wary after the problems that emerged during last year’s Kone deal.

Squad planning and defensive solidity

Spence is reportedly waiting for the final approval to travel to Milan and sign what is expected to be a four-year contract. He has already spoken with Stones about life in Italy. The possibility of the two English players linking up again at Appiano Gentile is looking more and more realistic.

As for the current defensive setup, Benjamin Pavard has informed Chivu and the club directors that he wants to remain at Inter. The French defender impressed throughout the pre-season tour, while people inside the camp have described his attitude in training as faultless.