Tottenham will make
Djed Spence available for transfer following his unexpected return from a loan spell at
Leeds amid concerns over his attitude.
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 and Leeds boss
Daniel Farke has become the latest coach to raise concerns.
'I don't want to talk too much about Djed right now, because he's meanwhile also back at Tottenham, that I totally respect that he's their player,' said Farke.
'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 it's professionalism, it's discipline, it's 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.
'We came to the conclusion that we will end the loan for for Djed and he will return back 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 so we really wish him all the best. But yes, sometimes you need to take a decision then you have to do this.'
Indeed, Spurs are understood to hold similar reservations with regards to Spence's attitude. According to sources, time-keeping had been a particular concern for Tottenham.
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.
'Application, dedication, all these things come into it. He's got the tools, there's no doubt about that.'
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.
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