This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more... 

Middlesbrough are facing an uphill battle to retain the service of Djed Spence, with a number of Premier League clubs circling the 19-year-old full-back.  

According to ESPN, Tottenham are amongst those clubs, with Jose Mourinho seemingly ready to shake up the options he’s got available to him at full-back and pursue to £10m-valued teenager.

Spence has broken onto the scene at Boro this season and impressed despite the side’s struggles in the Championship.

Our writers discuss whether he’d be a good addition for Spurs and whether he would start…

George Harbey  

Spence is a real talent and I have no doubts over him making the step-up to the Premier League.

He looks really calm and assured in defence and also likes to rampage forward with his sheer pace and power, and I think that would make him a very useful player in the top-flight.

I don't think he's quite at the level to play for Spurs just yet with Serge Aurier currently their first-choice, however with time he could be a really key player for Jose Mourinho and it's a position they need to strengthen.

If they can give him a good amount of game time, then I don't see why this move can't be a good one for Spence, and I don't think he'd cost a huge amount of money either.

They'd be paying for his potential, that's for sure.

Sam Rourke

Spence has been one of the bright sparks in what has been a seriously depressing campaign for Middlesbrough.

The right-back has put in a number of consistently impressive performances, with his energetic style of play combined with his willingness to contribute to attacks down the flank, certainly catching the eye.

It's not hard to see why Spurs are keeping an eye here, especially with their full-back positions coming in for criticism over the last season.

At 19, Spence has plenty of time to develop and mature as a player and if afforded time and patience at Spurs, he could be a really astute buy.

The touted £10m price-tag does seem somewhat steep in my eyes just yet though, and Tottenham shouldn't be lured into offloading hefty sums for the player just yet.

The only concern I have is that I look at what happened to Ryan Sessegnon since arriving at Spurs from Fulham, in truth, he's hardly been involved and you wouldn’t want the same happening to Spence here.

There are other clubs linked here where you'd think he'd potentially get a better chance of first-team football, straight off the bat.

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George Dagless

He's a good player but it's too soon for this.

I do think Spurs need to look at their full-back areas but they need a proven option at the highest level to come in and play immediately, rather than a youngster that's still got so much to learn.

I do think he could be a Premier League player in the future but I'd be wary of moving to Spurs if I was him, just because he won't get the minutes he needs to keep progressing.

If he does leave, he needs to ensure the buying club are going to play him and play him often because, otherwise, he might as well stay at Boro who I think will be in the Championship next year now.