​Nottingham Forest’s summer recruitment drive is in full swing, and while the club is currently locked in tense negotiations with Feyenoord for right-back Givairo Read, a far more compelling narrative has emerged. With Feyenoord holding firm on a stubborn £30 million valuation for Read, the City Ground hierarchy has a golden opportunity to pivot toward a target that would send the fanbase into a frenzy: the return of cult hero Djed Spence.

​The “Read” Standoff

​Forest’s pursuit of Read has hit a predictable snag. The Eredivisie side is unwilling to budge on their valuation, and while Read’s attacking profile—a perfect fit for Oliver Glasner’s dynamic 3-4-3 system—is undeniably attractive, he remains an unproven quantity in the English game. Forest is desperate for a right-back, and while Read is the current priority, the financial tug-of-war is becoming a distraction.

​Enter Djed Spence. A man who needs no introduction on Trentside.

​Why Spence is the Ultimate Upgrade

​If Nottingham Forest are looking to spend in the region of £25 million for a right-back, they would be hard-pressed to find a better option than a player currently representing England at the World Cup. Spence is not just a transfer target; he is a symbol of Forest’s modern resurgence. His 2021/22 loan spell from Middlesbrough was nothing short of legendary, serving as the engine room for the club’s return to the Premier League.

​Since then, Spence’s career has taken him to the very top. After a stint at Tottenham Hotspur, where he battled for a first-team spot under Ange Postecoglou and helped the team secure the 2024/25 Europa League title, Spence has evolved from a raw prospect into a seasoned Premier League veteran. With 85 appearances for Spurs under his belt, he has matured into a reliable, high-level performer capable of handling the defensive and offensive rigors of the modern game.

​The Perfect Fit for a New Forest

​The hesitation that plagued the club in 2022—when Steve Cooper desperately tried to lure Spence back—no longer exists. Back then, Spence might have had reservations about Forest’s top-flight longevity. Today, those fears are extinguished. Forest has cemented itself as a stable, ambitious Premier League outfit. Spence has publicly acknowledged the gratitude he feels toward the club for launching his career; he knows that without the faith shown by the City Ground faithful, he wouldn’t be the World Cup star he is today.

​The Race Against Everton

​The threat of losing Spence to a Premier League rival is real, with Everton reportedly ready to swoop. However, the appeal of “home” is a powerful psychological factor. Spence already shares a profound, unbreakable rapport with the Forest supporters. While a new signing like Read would require months of settling in, learning the city, the system, and the expectations of the City Ground, Spence would arrive with the keys to the city already in his pocket. He would hit the ground running from minute one.

​At £25 million—a relative steal in today’s inflated transfer market—signing an England international who already loves the club feels like a “no-brainer.” As Forest weighs its options, the message from the terraces is loud and clear: forget the scouting reports and the protracted negotiations for Read. Bring the hero back to Nottingham.

​Nottingham Forest fans: Would you choose a romantic return for Djed Spence over the potential of Givairo Read? With Everton circling, do we need to move fast to secure a player who already knows what it means to wear the Forest shirt? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!