Tottenham will make Djed Spence available for transfer following his unexpected return from a loan spell at Leeds

Mail Sport understands Spurs chiefs were taken by surprise on Thursday when they were informed that Leeds would be sending defender Spence back to north London with immediate affect. 

Spence joined the Championship club in the summer on a season long loan deal, but the deal has been abruptly cut short by Leeds – a decision that arrived as a shock at Tottenham. 

Doubts over Spence’s attitude have dogged the England Under-21 international’s career with Leeds boss Daniel Farke set to address the reasons why the Elland Road club decided to terminate the deal. 

In November 2020, Neil Warnock, who managed Spence at Middlesbrough, said: ‘He could be playing at a top club in England or in non-league in five years, I don’t know,’ said Warnock. 

Tottenham are open to offers for Djed Spence (left) after his loan deal was ended early at Leeds

Tottenham are open to offers for Djed Spence (left) after his loan deal was ended early at Leeds

Tottenham are open to offers for Djed Spence (left) after his loan deal was ended early at Leeds

Leeds boss Daniel Farke is set to address why the player was sent back to Tottenham after his deal was terminated

Leeds boss Daniel Farke is set to address why the player was sent back to Tottenham after his deal was terminated

Leeds boss Daniel Farke is set to address why the player was sent back to Tottenham after his deal was terminated

Neil Warnock was circumspect about Spence's prospects when he managed the player on loan at Middlesbrough

Neil Warnock was circumspect about Spence's prospects when he managed the player on loan at Middlesbrough

Neil Warnock was circumspect about Spence’s prospects when he managed the player on loan at Middlesbrough

‘Application, dedication, all these things come into it. He’s got the tools, there’s no doubt about that.’

Spence is due to report back for duty at Spurs on Saturday, but the club are almost certain to look for a new club for Spence this month. 

Spence has made just five starts at Leeds but his spell has been hit by injury. 

Speaking on Friday afternoon following Spence’s departure, Leeds boss Daniel Farke at first insisted the decision was made after an analysis of the first half of the season.

‘Obviously when you make decision in January, it’s not a short-term decision. It’s more like you’re thinking over situations even in the weeks and the month before,’ Farke said.

‘We wanted also to take the impressions of the festive period into account and then there was a time also to share the thoughts and to discuss the things.

‘We came to the conclusion that we will end the loan for Djed and he will return to Tottenham.

‘We are grateful for his time here. He’s a player of great potential and also a cool guy with a really good heart. But sometimes you need to take a decision and then you have to do this.’

Spence in action for Leeds against West Bromwich Albion just before the New Year

Spence in action for Leeds against West Bromwich Albion just before the New Year

Spence in action for Leeds against West Bromwich Albion just before the New Year

Asked about Spence again later on, Farke spoke at length about ‘professionalism and discipline’ without criticising the player outright.

He said: ‘Listen, in the summer we came here in order to create and to bring new values and to create a new culture within the club and when we speak about a player if he’s on here on a permanent or a loan deal, we have expectations and these expectations are in several topics important.

‘Obviously it’s important, the potential and the quality of the player but also his professionalism, his discipline, his workload on and off the pitch and also the soft skills, so also if he’s positive and committed, good for the group and engaged with these topics, paint then more or less a picture.

‘And we decided okay, this is the player we want in our group and want to represent Leeds United, our demands are very, very high and we don’t differ between loan players, permanent players, so we are pretty picky in this topic.

‘Yes, it’s fair to say there is no player out there in the world who is perfect in all disciplines. Every players has strengths and perhaps some weaknesses. 

 ‘We have to decide from all these topics who we want in the squad and we analyse in the recent months and recent weeks and we came to the decision that it is right for us, right now, to end the loan.

The full-back featured in seven Championship matches in all for Leeds during his loan

The full-back featured in seven Championship matches in all for Leeds during his loan

The full-back featured in seven Championship matches in all for Leeds during his loan

‘But when we make such a decision on such a day, it is not a topic I speak in public about. What was missing or the weaknesses of Djed Spence because as long as I am here in charge I want us as a club to handle such a situation with class and with style.

‘I think on such a day, it’s more or less to say ‘Djed, thanks a lot for your service, thanks a lot for your work, wish him really all the best because he is a cool guy with lots of potentials, good future and great heart.

‘For us, it was definitely the right call at this moment but I am far away to criticise him or speak about what was missing – that is not my style.’

Farke added: ‘We should explain it was not easy for him because he came in pre-season a bit late and then to suffer a long-term injury that kept him out of team training for 8.5 weeks, that was also unlucky and no one can be blamed.

‘Of course, especially for a player who comes on loan, the first weeks are important. If you are then 8.5 weeks of training all alone, at different times to the team, it is not the easiest way to settle in, to integrate into a group.

‘Also, something tragic happened in his private life so he had to stay in London for a few days and it is just a tragedy and you can’t accuse the lad for this.

Farke spoke at length on Spence's departure during his press conference on Friday

Farke spoke at length on Spence's departure during his press conference on Friday

Farke spoke at length on Spence’s departure during his press conference on Friday

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‘When he was back to fitness, he played on the left side that often due to the situation with Junior Firpo and Sam Byram being injured. In the last few games we only played him in his natural position on the right side.

‘These lads don’t need any sympathy because they live a privileged life and they earn so much money and, yes, it is sometimes a bit difficult and unlucky and some players have to play unusual positions. 

‘Djed and not one player need sympathy, it is a privileged position to be there as a professional football player, to lead such a privileged life. But i want to highlight it wasn’t the easiest time for him.

‘Sometimes you just have to say it was unlucky it didn’t work out but you have to be clear in your decision. It doesn’t take anything away that Djed has good potential.’

Similarly, Spurs are also open to offers for Sergio Reguilon, who returned from a loan spell from Manchester United this week. 

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