Tottenham Hotspur may have no time to waste if they are to win the race for their midfield target Hayden Hackney.
As the dust settles on a poor campaign for Spurs, reviews are underway regarding why they struggled so much, while it appears that the club have also started planning for their summer rebuild.
One would expect additions in the middle of the park, and one Middlesbrough star has been on Tottenham’s radar for a long time.
It has been widely reported over the last couple of months that Spurs are expected to reignite their interest in Hackney this summer, but another Premier League rival is now attempting to move to the front of the queue for the 23-year-old.
Nottingham Forest want to ‘move quickly’ to beat Tottenham to Hayden Hackney
TEAMtalk have backed up Tottenham’s interest in the midfielder, and they also reveal that he is expected to be one of the casualties this summer of Boro’s playoff disappointment.
With the club failing to secure promotion, Hackney, who has just a year left on his contract, is expected to make a move to the Premier League.
However, worryingly for Spurs, it is revealed that Nottingham Forest are now ready to ‘move quickly’ for the England U-21 international and do not want to waste any time in getting the player through the door.
Forest expect Elliot Anderson to leave the City Ground this summer, and they have identified Hackney as the man to replace the World Cup-bound midfielder.
Having admired the Boro man for a long time, Vitor Pereira’s men are now ‘advancing plans’ for a summer raid of the youngster.
How much is Hackney expected to cost?
TEAMtalk reveal that it is not just Spurs and Forest on Hackney’s trail, with Brentford, Everton, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Bournemouth all having scouted the player over recent months.
With the interest in his services growing after Boro’s playoff defeat, it is asserted that the midfielder’s future is now about to enter a ‘crucial phase’.
Even though Hackney only has a year left on his deal at the Riverside Stadium, Kim Hellberg’s men are expected to seek a fee close to £25m for their star man.