AS Roma continue to prioritise strengthening their right flank for Gian Piero Gasperini, with Feyenoord's Givairo Read remaining the club's principal target after sporting director Tony D'Amico raised his offer to around €29m including bonuses.
While talks over a definitive agreement with the Dutch club continue, D'Amico is also exploring alternatives who can offer pace, dynamism and attacking thrust without compromising defensive balance.
According to Il Romanista, Roma have made an approach in recent hours for Djed Spence, the 2000-born full-back on Tottenham's books, who can play at right-back or further forward on the wing and has become a regular for Spurs since a difficult run of loan spells early in his career, winning an England call-up and a Europa League title along the way.
Spence is also being tracked by Inter Milan, but Tottenham's asking price represents a significant obstacle for both Italian clubs. The English giants value the player at around €40m and, for now, appear unwilling to lower their demands.
D'Amico considers that figure too high and, while he is keeping Spence on his list of options, has no intention of meeting Tottenham's conditions at this stage. Roma will continue to monitor the situation, ready to move quickly should the London club soften its stance in the coming weeks.
Despite the interest in Spence, Read remains the clear priority, with Roma wanting to concentrate their efforts on the Feyenoord youngster, who is seen as the best fit for Gasperini's system and has already given his approval to the move.
Sporting Lisbon's Ivan Fresneda, valued at around €20m, remains a further alternative should the other two targets fall through; the Spanish full-back moved to Portugal from Real Valladolid for around €9m in 2023 and has continued to draw admirers among Europe's bigger clubs since.
The club's strategy appears clear: Read first, Spence as a possible opportunity if Tottenham's stance shifts, and Fresneda as the more accessible fallback option.