Arsenal are lining up a deadline-day offer for Djed Spence, with Middlesbrough also bracing for a bid from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Northern Echo report that Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are both lining up offers for 21-year-old right-back Djed Spence.

If either club sign Spence today, the plan would be to loan him back to Nottingham Forest for the rest of the season.

Spence is contracted to Middlesbrough, but he’s currently on loan at Forest. He’s played for both clubs this season, so he’s ineligible to play for a third – per FIFA rules.

So Arsenal would be bidding to Middlesbrough, but Spence would be returning to Forest if and when he completed his move.

Of the two coaches, Mikel Arteta is believed to be happier than Antonio Conte at the idea of signing a player who can’t play for his club until the summer. Conte is scrambling for options now after his move for Adama Traore fell apart.

The suggestion is that Middlesbrough would want £12m for the young defender.

The Evening Standard previously reported that Tottenham Hotspur were preparing to compete with Arsenal for Spence, and the Mirror claimed that Arsenal were eyeing a January move.

Spence has made 23 appearances in all competitions this season, including his four for Middlesbrough. But he would have primarily caught Arsenal’s eye in the 1-0 FA Cup win for Forest.