Tottenham could face competition from Premier League rivals for the signing of Middlesbrough star.
Tottenham Hotspur failed to address several glaring issues within the squad during the January transfer window. They did bring in Conor Gallagher and Souza, but those acquisitions have been widely considered insufficient for a squad that has been beset by injuries.
After failing to turn the club’s fortunes around, Thomas Frank was finally shown the door. The Dane’s disastrous tenure ended with the Lilywhites languishing in 16th place and just five points above the relegation zone. Igor Tudor was announced as Spurs’ caretaker head coach at the weekend, and the 47-year-old faces the uphill task of getting a tune out of the squad and keeping them in the top flight.
While all energy and focus of the club is to salvage the season, the planning for the summer transfer window continues to happen behind the scenes. One key area that requires attention is the midfield. Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall are long-term injuries, while uncertainty remains over the future of Joao Palhinha, who is on loan from Bayern Munich.
Leeds United set to rival Tottenham and Manchester United for Middlesbrough star
Tottenham have been reportedly keeping tabs on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney for some time now. They were planning to sign the England Under-21 international during the winter transfer window, but a move didn’t materialise. Now, Spurs could face extra competition for his signature in the summer.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Leeds United have joined Tottenham and Manchester United in the race to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough. The defensive midfielder is valued at £30million by the Championship club.
Described as ‘hugely talented’ by Michael Carrick, who is currently Man United’s interim boss, Hackney has been among the standout performers for Boro in recent seasons. He has been fantastic this campaign, too, bagging four goals and six assists in 31 Championship appearances thus far. The Redcar-born talent has essayed a key role for Boro sitting at the summit of the Championship, and there is a great chance of them achieving automatic promotion.
Hackney features in Leeds United’s shortlist of summer targets, while Carrick, having managed Middlesbrough for more than two seasons, could have a big influence on Man United going for the player. This shows Spurs won’t have a straightforward route to sign the Boro skipper. A move for Hackney also aligns quite well with the transfer strategy that Tottenham have adopted in recent years.
But the interest from Leeds and Man United doesn’t help Tottenham. If Boro achieves promotion to the Premier League, their chances of keeping hold of Hackney will be boosted. So, it will be interesting to see what happens with him in the summer, and whether the Lilywhites manage to secure his signature.