“The potential and the quality of the player is important but also the professionalism, the discipline, We came to the conclusion that we will end the loan”-Daniel Farke speaks out on reason for Djed Spence loan termination as he questions player’s attitude
Leeds boss Daniel Farke appeared to question Djed Spence’s attitude after his loan deal from Tottenham was cut short.
The 23-year-old signed for the Championship side on a season-long loan deal in the summer but is already back at his parent club.
Spence made seven appearances for Leeds before it was announced on Friday his return to Spurs five months earlier than expected.
The Daily Mail report that chiefs at the north London club were surprised with the Whites’ decision to cut the loan deal short. However, Leeds boss Farke appeared to hint at Spence’s attitude as a potential factor in the club’s decision to send him back to Spurs early.
“I don’t want to talk too much about Djed right now, because he’s meanwhile also back at Tottenham, that I totally respect that he’s their player.
“Listen, in the summer we came here in order to create and to bring new values and to create a new culture within the club and when we speak about a player if he’s on here on a permanent or a loan deal, we have expectations and these expectations are in several topics important.
“Obviously it’s important, the potential and the quality of the player but also it’s professionalism, it’s discipline, it’s workload on and off the pitch and also the soft skills, so also if he’s positive and committed, good for the group and engaged with these topics, paint them more or less a picture.
“And we decided okay, this is the player we want in our group and want to represent Leeds United. Our demands are very, very high and we don’t differ between loan players, permanent players so we are pretty picky in this topic.”
He added: “We came to the conclusion that we will end the loan for for Djed and he will return back to Tottenham. We are grateful for his time here.
“He’s a player of great potential and also a cool guy with a really good heart so we really wish him all the best. But yes, sometimes you need to take a decision then you have to do this.”
Spence signed for Middlesbrough from the Fulham academy in 2018 and he spent four years at the Riverside Stadium. He signed for Nottingham Forest on loan for the 2021/22 season and was key in their promotion to the Premier League.
Spurs signed him in the subsequent summer but he featured just six times before spending the second half of last season at Rennes.
Spence is now back at Ange Postecoglou’s side but could leave the club again before the end of the January transfer window.
