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Football London
Sport
Rob Guest

The exciting change to Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici's summer transfer approach at Tottenham

Antonio Conte made it crystal clear at the start of the year that Tottenham needed to sign experienced players to help drive the team on to greater heights. The club's transfer policy has changed as a result this summer, with Fabio Paratici and the head coach bringing experienced players to N17 who can be instant hits in the Premier League

Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma and Richarlison already have a wealth of experience playing in the top flight and should have a smooth transition into life at Tottenham. Ivan Perisic and Clement Lenglet, on the other hand, will need to adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League but they do arrive with that experience Conte requires after playing at the top on both the club and international stage.

A far cry from their transfer activity last summer when Paratici clinched deals for prospects Bryan Gil and Pape Matar Sarr, Djed Spence's transfer from Middlesbrough is the only summer deal that represents Tottenham's previous policy of buying talented youngsters and moulding them into future stars. The 21-year-old isn't arriving at the club having only played a handful of games, however, as he has made 102 appearances in the Championship since making his debut for Boro in December 2019.

READ MORE: Djed Spence's first words on Tottenham transfer, Ryan Sessegnon and what he will bring to Spurs

Wowing fans last season with his eye-catching displays at right wing-back during his season on loan at Nottingham Forest, it came as no surprise at all to see a host of clubs, including Tottenham, taking a close look at him. It wasn't just in the Championship where Spence impressed either as he did deliver big performances in Forest's FA Cup run which saw them face Arsenal, Leicester City and Liverpool.

Proving in those games that he has what it takes to be a Premier League player, now it is about Spence doing it on a weekly basis following his Tottenham transfer, which Spurs have managed to wrap up for a fee of £12.5million rising to £20million with add-ons. The England U21 international is by no means the finished product and he is a work in progress, but he does have all the attributes and qualities to be a huge hit in the top flight for Spurs.

That is why his move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is such an exciting one. Over the coming seasons Tottenham fans could be about to see Spence grow as a player and take his already impressive game up another level or two.

Just training day in, day out with players such as Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane will see him reach new levels, as will coming up against some of the Premier League and Champions League's best left-sided players each week. The prospect of working under Conte is also a mouthwatering one, especially as the head coach has already helped improve a number of his Spurs squad in limited time working with them at Hotspur Way.

Conte's system is made for a player of Spence's quality and the hope is that he will be able to contribute with goals and assists on a regular basis for the Lilywhites. Wing-backs have thrived playing for him in the past, with Victor Moses, Marcos Alonso and Perisic having a major impact in the final third for him.

Speaking to SpursTV following his move to the Lilywhites, Spence opened up on his transfer and made it clear that coming to Tottenham will only help hone his game.

“Obviously this is a big club with Champions League football as well, and you’ve got some of the best players who play here, so it’s a privilege to be here and I can’t wait to get going," he told SpursTV. "From what I’ve seen here, it’s very good. I think it will do me good and help me develop as a player a lot (to be in this environment) and I can obviously learn from other people and the experience that they have.

“From a young age, to go from watching some of the players on TV to now playing with them… it’s going to be great and I’m excited to learn from them and take in anything they can offer me. In the Premier League you have high-intensity, good technical players – it will be hard but I think it will be good and I’m ready for the challenge.

"I’m excited to hit the ground running, hopefully play and try to impress. We have a great manager too – from what I’ve seen of him, he’s a top manager and I can’t wait to work under him.”

Linking up with his new teammates at Hotspur Way on Tuesday following his transfer, Spurs fans could be set to see Spence in Tottenham colours for the first time on Saturday when they travel to Ibrox to face Rangers. The new addition now has three weeks to get up to speed, learn Conte's ways and make his case for a starting spot against Southampton on the opening weekend of the season.

Looking set to fight it out with Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal for the right wing-back spot unless one of the duo now moves on, Lucas Moura could also challenge for the position this season after playing there in Tottenham's first two friendlies of the summer. Certainly by no means a guaranteed starter as he was at Forest last term, that competition, coupled with Conte's help and guidance, will only spur Spence on to become an even better player as he looks to make the right wing-back berth his own for years to come.

Spurs have made some very exciting additions ahead of the new season, with Spence right up there for many supporters. Making huge progress in his career over the past 12 months, the next year promises to be very exciting indeed for both the player and Tottenham.

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