Tottenham keeping tabs on Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney ahead of potential move

Tottenham Hotspur have focused on signing dynamic young talents with high potential under Ange Postecoglou. They have made some exciting acquisitions in this transfer window in a bid to lift the overall ceiling of the squad.

The additions of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray to offset the departures of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele have indeed been a smart one. However, having sold Oliver Skipp to Leicester City, Tottenham must plan to replace him in their squad before the transfer window closes down. And one player seems to have caught the north London club’s attention.

According to a report from TBR Football (h/t GIVEMESPORT), Tottenham have scouted Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney in the opening two games of the new Championship season. Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United have also been keeping tabs on the player.

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Hayden Hackney is considered to be one of the best talents in the Championship. Having come through Middlesbrough’s youth ranks, the 22-year-old has made 71 appearances thus far for the senior side, scoring five goals and providing six assists across all competitions. He emerged as one of the Teesside-based club’s standout performers in the 2023/24 season, amassing 28 appearances across all competitions.

The talented midfielder has played every minute of Middlesbrough’s opening two league games in the new Championship season, and was fantastic against Swansea City in their season opener, helping his side to a 1-0 win.

As a defensive midfielder, the five-cap England under-21 international’s primary job is to screen the defence and extinguish fires before it develops. However, Hackney is way more than just a steady No.6 and can do his part in the offensive end of the pitch—as evidenced by four goals and as many assists in his first two full Championship seasons at the Riverside Stadium.

The aforementioned report (h/t GIVEMESPORT) claims that Tottenham are monitoring Hackney’s situation ahead of the transfer deadline. However, Boro manager Michael Carrick is extremely reluctant to allow any of his star men leave now including the young midfielder from Redcar as he aims for promotion.

Spurs’ interest in the Boro star is perhaps an indication that they are planning to replace the recently departed Skipp. And if that is the case, Hackney would be more than a good enough replacement for Skipp, owing to his skill set on and off the ball. A homegrown talent as well, the Englishman would be an exciting addition to a pool of young midfielders that already includes Bergvall and Gray—plucked from Djurgardens and Leeds United, respectively, this year.

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As Carrick has ordered his Boro bosses to not allow Hackney to depart, Spurs will have to table a sizeable bid to persuade the Championship outfit into selling him so late in the transfer window.