Manchester United enter race for England U-21 star on Tottenham radar; £20m deal mooted

Tottenham-linked Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney emerges as a target for Manchester United

Over the last few weeks and months, Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with several midfielders across Europe. This is perhaps down to the fact that the club bosses are planning a midfield surgery during this transfer window.

Middlesbrough talent Hayden Hackney is the latest name to have emerged on the North London club’s radar. One of the most-sought midfielders in the Championship, the 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2024/25 season at Middlesbrough. He was a consistent performer for the Riverside-based club, bagging five goals and three assists in 43 appearances.

Hayden Hackney is set to feature for England in the Under-21 European Championship in Slovakia starting from Thursday. Tottenham scouts are set to run the rule over him when representing the national team in the European tournament before considering making a move. However, it wouldn’t be straightforward for the Lilywhites to get a deal over the line.

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This is because there is an entry of one of their Premier League rivals in the race for the Englishman’s signature. According to an exclusive report from GIVEMESPORT, Hackney has worked his way onto Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim’s radar as he prepares for his first full season in Premier League football.

Middlesbrough have given Hackney the green light to seal a move away from the Riverside Stadium and could be open to offers for him at around £20m, but a strong Euro Under-21 campaign in Slovakia should see his price soar. Thus, the Championship club will want to use their homegrown product’s performances on the big stage to determine what they should seek this summer.

A holding midfielder by trade, Hackney can play in a box-to-box role as well and use his passing range to create chances in the final third. At 22, he aligns perfectly with Tottenham’s recruitment strategy of buying young, hungry and exciting talent who can make an immediate impact to the team as well as prove valuable in the future.

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Under prospective boss Thomas Frank, Spurs are set to embark on a new era and the players will be hungry to win more titles after last month’s Europa League success. The Lilywhites beat Man United 1-0 in the Europa League final in Bilbao to lift the trophy and qualify for next season’s Champions League as well.

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This should make Tottenham a more attractive proposition than Amorim’s club, but Daniel Levy must not undermine the pull of Man United. Any transfer for Hackney away from Boro looks likely to happen after his national team commitments, but that should not stop Levy and Co. from preparing groundwork for a potential deal.