Everton manager David Moyes is reportedly pushing hard to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence this summer transfer window.
According to Football Insider, Moyes is keen to address a long-standing problem position at the club ahead of next season.
Right-back has been a troublesome area for the Toffees for several years, with specialist options Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson both battling persistent fitness problems.
Moyes was forced to deploy centre-back Jake O’Brien in that position last campaign, with James Garner also providing cover at right-back on occasions.
Coleman has now departed the club as a free agent, further thinning Everton’s options in that area of the pitch.
Patterson enters the final year of his contract with his long-term future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium far from secured, adding further urgency to Everton’s recruitment efforts.
Spence, who is 25 years old, is valued at around £26m by Transfermarkt and is contracted to Tottenham until 2029, meaning the North London club holds considerable leverage in any negotiations.
Tottenham currently have both Pedro Porro and Spence as specialist right-back options, with midfielder Archie Gray also capable of providing cover in that position if required.
That depth in the position makes it unlikely Spurs would willingly weaken their squad by sanctioning Spence’s departure without significant financial compensation.
Spence has shown his qualities in the Premier League and earned a place in England’s World Cup squad, meaning his future at Spurs may only become clear once he returns from international duty.
The defender is versatile enough to operate on either flank and can also play in a right wing-back role, offering managers tactical flexibility across the defensive line.
His attributes include pace, physicality, comfort in possession when playing out from the back, and solid defensive contributions that make him an attractive proposition for Premier League clubs.
Everton’s search for a reliable long-term right-back solution has stretched over several seasons, and landing Spence would represent a significant and purposeful piece of squad building under Moyes.
Whether the Merseyside club can convince Tottenham to sell and persuade Spence to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium remains the key question as the summer window develops.