A number of players have emerged from the shadows to help Ange Postecoglou this season amid a severe injury crisis at Tottenham.
Mikey Moore has taken on real responsibility at the age of just 17 to become one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal 2024/25 campaign for Spurs, while Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have too at the ages of 18 and 19 respectively.
Djed Spence is another who has worked hard to prove himself to Ange Postecoglou – emerging as one of the better players at Tottenham this season when it seemed as if he had no future in N17 last summer.
In fact – had a clause been met – the Tottenham No.24 would have departed for just £8m before his resurgence this season.
Genoa could have signed Djed Spence for £8m
Tottenham actually loaned the 24-year-old to Genoa for six months back in January 2024.
It was not – however – just a loan to help develop Spence and make him a better option for Postecoglou, as the Serie A outfit were allowed to have a €10m (£8m) purchase option included in the deal.
It strongly suggested that Tottenham had basically given up on the Londoner, and were willing to take a small loss on the initial £12.5m it took to sign him from Middlesbrough in July 2022.
Fortunately for Postecoglou – based on how well Spence has performed this season – Genoa opted against triggering that clause, a decision which enabled the defender to fight for his place at Spurs.
Spence – who sometimes wears a star on his face during games – has done exactly that, scoring one goal and providing two assists in 17 appearances so far this term.
Ange Postecoglou now has a valuable asset on his hands at Tottenham
There are not many young, English full-backs around at the moment who can play well on both the left and right of defence, so Spurs were very lucky Genoa decided to send the defender back.
Spence – who backs himself against Mohamed Salah – could easily become a £30m player by the end of this season if he maintains his impressive form, while that figure could soar if Thomas Tuchel hands him an England debut as well.
Whether it was Daniel Levy or Johan Lange who negotiated that £8m option to buy, Spurs must be delighted Genoa never triggered it.