Tottenham are searching for a specialist midfielder this summer, and Hayden Hackney now appears firmly on their radar.
Tottenham Hotspur have plenty of work to do this summer after finishing just one place above the relegation zone for a second consecutive season, something Roberto De Zerbi himself has openly acknowledged.
The Italian wants to reshape large parts of the squad and, encouragingly for supporters, Spurs appear to be moving quickly in the market. Andrew Robertson’s arrival has already been confirmed by the club despite the transfer window not officially opening yet, while Marcos Senesi is also expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
After surviving by the narrowest of margins, Tottenham cannot afford another summer of hesitation. The club need quality additions, they need depth, and perhaps most importantly, they need players who fit exactly what De Zerbi wants from his system.
With several positions requiring attention, midfield remains one of the biggest priorities heading into the new campaign.
Hayden Hackney emerges as Tottenham’s most realistic midfield solution
SpursWeb previously reported that De Zerbi would want a creative deep-lying playmaker in his squad next season, a role the Italian has never compromised on throughout his managerial career
However, it is also a profile Tottenham simply do not have right now, and while Archie Gray is arguably the closest fit, De Zerbi has already admitted he is still developing the 20-year-old at Hotspur Way. Given Gray has spent much of the last two seasons playing across multiple positions, expecting him to immediately become a specialist playmaker in such a short duration would be unfair.
That has led Spurs towards several targets including Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, Nathan De Cat and Hayden Hackney.
Wharton would be the dream signing, but Crystal Palace’s reported £80m valuation and their Europa League qualification make that deal difficult. Baleba appears even less realistic given Brighton’s £100m asking price, while 17-year-old De Cat remains inexperienced for Premier League football.
Hackney, therefore, looks the most attainable option. Sky Sports have now confirmed those links, reporting that Tottenham are among the clubs interested in the Middlesbrough midfielder and specifically view him as a player capable of progressing possession from deep areas.
The report stated: ‘Tottenham also want a central midfielder who can pass from deep, and are among the clubs who like Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough.’
Tottenham face strong competition for Hayden Hackney
Hackney arrives on the back of an impressive Championship campaign in which he registered 13 goal contributions, and unsurprisingly, Tottenham are not the only club paying attention.
Manchester United are understood to be monitoring the 23-year-old closely as they prepare for changes in midfield, with Casemiro expected to depart. Hackney also has an existing relationship with United boss Michael Carrick from their time together at Middlesbrough.
Crystal Palace are also keeping tabs on Hackney as they prepare for the possibility of losing Adam Wharton this summer.
However, Everton currently appear to be leading the race, with talks already underway with Middlesbrough. According to David Ornstein, the midfielder is personally keen on a move to Goodison Park, which could make Tottenham’s task significantly harder.
Reports suggest Hackney could be available for around £25m this summer.
That is a sizeable fee for a Championship player, but given his age, profile and potential, it is easy to understand why so many Premier League clubs believe he would be worth the investment.