SPURS SET TO WIN RACE FOR £2Om SPENCE

■TOTTENHAM are closing in on a £20million deal for Middlesbrough right back Djed Spence. The 21-year-old impressed on loan at Nottingham Forest last season and has attracted a number of enquiries. The transfer is expected to be finalised early next week. Forest had hoped to keep Spence (right) but competition was fierce. They are exploring other options and have asked about Manchester City’s Issa Kabore

and Arsenal’s Ainsley MaitlandNiles. Another Middlesbrough defender, Nathan Wood, has joined Swansea City while Boro have hired Manchester United goalkeeping coach Alan Fettis. Meanwhile, Spurs have agreed to sell Cameron Carter-Vickers to Celtic in a £6m deal. ÷INTER MILAN sporting director Piero Ausilio has arrived in London for meetings with Tottenham and Chelsea regarding potential transfers. ■ARSENAL are considering

Leeds winger Raphinha as his dream move to Barcelona stalls. The 25-year-old Brazilian is one of a number of options being discussed by Arsenal but is valued at £55m by Leeds. Barca have held regular talks with Raphinha’s agent

Deco but need to sell before registering new signings or making substantial bids.

÷BAYERN MUNICH remain about £8.5m short of Liverpool’s £42.5m valuation for Sadio Mane as talks continue. Liverpool are continuing discussions with Benfica over the structure of their bid for Darwin Nunez. Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann has spoken to Mane in recent days ahead of his potential move.

■EVERTON have released Fabian Delph, Cenk Tosun and Gylfi Sigurdsson, who cost a combined £80.5m. The Toffees have extended Asmir Begovic’s contract and offered a new deal to fellow goalkeeper Andy Lonergan. Jonjoe Kenny rejected an extension, with two German sides keen on his signature. ÷CHELSEA have released Danny Drinkwater, Charly Musonda and Jake Clarke-Salter.

FULHAM are nearing a deal for former Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, 27. The Albanian is a free agent.

JOAO PALHINHA remains a key target for Wolves this summer despite Fulham also expressing an interest in the Sporting Lisbon midfielder. Sporting are prepared to sell the 26-year-old for a fee in the region of £17m and have been in talks with Wolves for weeks.

BRENTFORD have firmed up their interest in Bologna full back Aaron Hickey. The Scotland international is

valued at about £20m.