Tottenham Hotspur have been eyeing a move for a Championship starlet since last summer, but they will face Man United competition.
One would expect Spurs to bolster the middle of the park in the summer, with Tottenham keen on adding a top-class creative passer to their midfield.
Adam Wharton has been described as Tottenham’s dream midfield target, but the North Londoners may have to set their sights a little lower as they look set to miss out on European qualification.
Spurs were reportedly considering a move for Middlesbrough’s £30m Hayden Hackney in January before they signed Conor Gallagher, but a deal for the Boro star may not be easy to complete in the summer.
Tottenham face Manchester United competition for Hayden Hackney
TEAMtalk have now claimed that Tottenham also explored an approach for Hackney last summer, but ultimately, Boro were not willing to sell their midfield starlet.
The London club may have more competition to contend with in the summer, as the report says that Man United are now monitoring the 23-year-old ahead of the summer window.
The Red Devils allegedly view the England U21 international as someone who can bolster their midfield depth and as part of their long-term succession planning.
The belief at the Manchester club is that the Championship star is capable of developing into a Premier League regular.
Middlesbrough’s fate this season could dictate Hackney’s future
TEAMtalk say that Boro priced Hackney out of a move in the January window after Nottingham Forest showed ‘serious interest’.
The report says that the belief is that the midfielder will be playing Premier League football next season, either through his boyhood club being promoted or by making a big move.
Boro are currently sitting in second place in the Championship table, and the publication adds that they will be in a strong position to retain their academy graduate should they get promoted to the top flight.