DJED Spence has declared his desire to remain at Nottingham Forest next season following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
The 21-year-old, who has been on loan at the City Ground for the season from Middlesbrough, played a crucial role in helping Forest to the top flight and played the full 90 minutes as they beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.
After an outstanding season in the Championship scoring three goals and contributing five assists with Forest, Spence’s future looks to be away from Teesside with Boro understood to be keen to come to a swift resolution as to where his next destination will be.
While promotion to the Premier League will help Forest’s chances of bringing Spence back to the club, they will face competition from Tottenham Hotspur who are interested in bringing the former Fulham academy graduate to North London. Reports suggest Boro will command a fee of around £15 million for Spence to be lured away from the Riverside Stadium.
Following the celebrations at Wembley, Spence told Nottinghamshire Live: "(This club) means everything to me. I've come here and the fans and gaffer have both taken me in.
"We lose together and win together. We're going up together. This means everything to me."
When asked whether Spence expects to be playing for Forest next season, he replied: “Hopefully.”
Spence was sent out on loan by Chris Wilder’s predecessor Neil Warnock at the beginning of the season who said the young defender could go to the top of the game but needed to ‘sort himself out’.
The defender sent a message to the 73-year-old via Twitter following Forest’s promotion to the Premier League. ‘Oh, where’s my manners! Welcome to Twitter @warnockofficial’ it read as he sat in the Wembley changing room with the trophy and a cigar in hand.
Warnock responded earlier this morning and wanted the defender to 'enjoy his success'.
Well done Djed , I did say you were premier league or non league, glad you listened and took my advice on board now go and enjoy your success
— Neil Warnock (@warnockofficial) May 30, 2022
Those cigars won’t do you any good though son 😉 https://t.co/EANP8g4ri9
Spence has made 70 appearances for Boro since coming through the first-team in 2019 under Jonathan Woodgate and scored three goals.
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