Tottenham Hotspur are joining Arsenal and others in the race for young right-back Djed Spence, according to a report.

The Evening Standard report that Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to compete with Arsenal for Middlesbrough right-back Djed Spence – currently on loan with Nottingham Forest.

Middlesbrough are expected to demand up to £12m to let the defender go.

The Mirror previously reported that Arsenal were eyeing a January move for Spence.

But a deal won’t be straightforward. Arsenal would need Middlesbrough to recall him so Arsenal could buy him, and then they’d have to loan him back out to either Middlesbrough or Nottingham Forest.

You can’t play for three clubs in one season, and Spence has already played for Middlesbrough and Forest, so he wouldn’t be eligible for Arsenal until the summer.

The Evening Standard suggest Spence would likely go back to Forest.

There’s reportedly a ‘growing expectation’ Spence might move this window despite those restrictions, as the likes of Arsenal, AS Roma, and Inter Milan circle, and Spurs now in the mix as well. Waiting until summer may well mean missing out.

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 over them.

Arsenal would have had one eye on Forest’s performances even before that, given the loan of Jordi Osei-Tutu to the club.

Osei-Tutu has since been recalled after various injury problems, but Spence remains a consistent presence in the side.