Newcastle linked with Djed Spence move after excellent World Cup

When Newcastle United full-back Lewis Hall was overlooked for Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad for Djed Spence, I, like many other Mags, was completely baffled.

Djed Spence, a natural right-back, was preferred to left-back Lewis Hall after performing in a struggling Tottenham Hotspur side that barely avoided relegation.

Obviously, Newcastle didn't fare much better in the Premier League, but during the season, Lewis Hall had kept Lamine Yamal in his back pocket in the Champions League.

We felt that Hall deserved to go to the USA and Mexico with Tuchel's Three Lions, and we were perplexed by Spence's inclusion.

I was so very wrong

Then the World Cup got underway, and Spence was a regular feature in Tuchel's team. Not only that, but he was regularly one of the better players on the pitch.

Last night in the third-place play-off against France, Spence was everywhere. Up and down the pitch, getting on the end of every ball, stopping the French attack from doing anything meaningful, especially in the first half.

Then, in the second half, it was Spence who was marauding in behind the French defence in the 86th minute before being brought down and winning a penalty.

At that point, I felt that I owed him this apology. He proved me, and many others, very, very wrong. And I owe Thomas Tuchel an apology for doubting his thinking when including him in the squad. That doesn't mean Tuchel is off the hook for the semi-final, mind, or indeed that second half opening half hour last night.

Newcastle have been linked to Djed Spence

As this is a Newcastle United site, I'll bring it back to the Magpies again. Newcastle were recently linked with a move for Djed Spence this summer.

A report from TEAMtalk claims that Tottenham may be open to selling the 25-year-old as Roberto De Zerbi doesn't see him as part of his plans, and Newcastle could be interested. Newcastle did hold an interest in Spence during his Middlesbrough days, but he ended up going to Spurs.

The Magpies do need a full-back, and we'd love to see Djed Spence be that man, but we do not see that happening at all. 

Rumour Rating: 4/10 - Yes, we need a full-back, yes, Spence would be ideal. But he will expect to play, not provide cover for Tino and Hall, and we don't trust the source here at all. He's been linked to Inter Milan too, and the money involved after that World Cup would be way out of Newcastle's scope, unless one of our England full-backs are planning to leave.