What Leeds said about terminating Djed Spence's loan proves Postecoglou has transformed his career - Opinion

19/02/2025 14:45

One year on from Leeds United terminating Djed Spence’s loan and the Tottenham defender is now getting shouts for an England call-up.

Gary Lineker has backed Spence to play for England highlighting his transformation in the space of a just year and how good the 24-year-old has been this season.

Genoa had the chance to sign Spence for just £8m in the summer, however, the Italian club opted to pass on the option, with his value having now nearly quadrupled.

His turnaround has been quite phenomenal which says quite a lot about Ange Postecoglou as a coach considering the reasoning Leeds gave for abruptly ending his spell at Elland Road.

Why Leeds decided to send Djed Spence back to Tottenham early

Back in January 2024, Leeds United cut short Djed Spence’s loan spell as Daniel Farke had ‘grown tired’ of the defender’s ‘demeanour and performance levels’, reported the Athletic.

Rather remarkably to summarise his attitude the report adds that Spence even managed to turn up late to the meeting telling him he would be heading back to Tottenham.

In the summer, Ange Postecoglou wanted Spurs to sell Spence although a move away failed to materialise and he remained in North London.

Spence was omitted from Tottenham’s Europa League squad which signalled that the Australian still had no faith in the full-back.

Djed Spence is now one of Ange Postecoglou’s best Tottenham players

But, an injury to Destiny Udogie against Wolves forced Postecoglou to hand Spence his first Premier League start almost two and a half years on from his arrival.

Fast forward two months and Spence is now arguably Postecoglou’s best full-back and has won the Man of the Match award in Tottenham’s last two matches.

Spence’s performance ‘terrified’ Manchester United as Ruben Amorim’s side failed to contain the marauding left-back who looks to have become the perfect fit for Postecoglou’s system.