Tottenham Hotspur could supposedly try to steal a march on their rivals in the race for Genoa's Albert Gudmundsson by proposing a swap deal for the Icelandic striker.
Gudmundsson has been a shining light for Genoa during their first campaign back in the top flight, coming up with 15 goals and four assists in 33 matches in all tournaments.
With 13 strikes in top-flight action, the 26-year-old has bettered his 11-goal tally from Genoa's promotion-winning Serie B campaign last term and has found success in a handful of positions this season.
As well as operating at the tip of the Genoa attack, Gudmundsson has been deployed in a false nine position and - more recently - in a midfield role, while he also has 10 efforts to show from 36 caps for Iceland.
Gudmundsson's national team feats include a hat-trick in a Euro 2024 qualifying playoff semi-final win over Israel, before also netting his side's consolation goal in their final loss to Ukraine last month.
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Spurs to include Djed Spence in Gudmundsson deal?
Back in November, Genoa prolonged the striker's contract until 2027 amid his prolific exploits, but the Serie A outfit appear to be fighting a losing battle to keep hold of their talismanic forward.
Newly-crowned Italian champions Inter Milan, Juventus and Tottenham are said to be involved in a three-way scrap for Gudmundsson, but the Premier League side might have an ace up their sleeve.
According to Calciomercato, the Lilywhites could try to drive the price down by including on-loan defender Djed Spence as part of a deal to bring Gudmundsson to North London.
The 23-year-old has been a regular fixture in the Grifone team since arriving on a temporary deal in January, making 11 Serie A appearances either as a right wing-back or left wing-back, although he is still waiting for his first goal or assist.
Genoa possess the option to buy Spence for approximately €10m (£8.6m) when the season concludes, but the report suggests that he could be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations for Gudmundsson.
How is Spence's Tottenham future shaping up?
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If Tottenham were to try to purchase Gudmundsson in a straight-cash deal, the report adds that not even €35m (£30m) - a fee that neither Juve nor Inter are prepared to fork out - may be enough to land the Icelandic striker.
However, Spurs are unlikely to turn their nose up to a part-exchange deal involving Spence, who has failed to live up to expectations since being signed in the summer of 2022 from Middlesbrough.
The England Under-21 international had just helped Nottingham Forest clinch promotion to the Premier League, but he has only racked up six appearances for Tottenham and is yet to start a competitive game for the Lilywhites.
Underwhelming loans with Leeds United and Rennes preceded his switch to Genoa, but Spence recently confirmed his desire to remain with Tottenham, who have him under contract until 2027.
The right-back would be behind Emerson Royal and Pedro Porro in the pecking order next season, though, so a permanent exit would seemingly be the best move for his stalled career.
Ben Knapton
