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Tottenham among early frontrunners to land Championship star

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated Oct 4, 2025 2:33 PM ET

Tottenham are set to battle Manchester United for the signing of Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney

Tottenham Hotspur spent wisely in the summer transfer window, helping new boss Thomas Frank rebuild his squad as per his own vision.

In Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani, the Hotspur Way chiefs did well to secure some exciting attacking talents and offset the departure of Son Heung-min, as well as replace the injured duo James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski in the squad. However, Spurs faced several setbacks in their pursuit of summer’s top transfer targets.

The north Londoners failed to land Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney in the previous transfer window after having scouted him thoroughly during the Under-21 European Championship. The highly-rated Englishman looked set to depart Middlesbrough in the summer after a deal worth around £20m was agreed with Ipswich Town. However, he opted to reject a move to Ipswich Town in the 11th hour, thus, deciding to stay put at the Riverside Stadium.

Tottenham early frontrunners to sign Hayden Hackney

Hayden has been one of Middlesbrough’s standout performers over the last 15 to 18 months, and his strong start to the Championship season has only enhanced his rising stock. The midfielder has registered a goal and two assists in nine games, helping Boro to an unbeaten start and second in the table.

The 23-year-old’s performances have put several clubs on red alert across England, but as per a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham and Manchester United are deemed early frontrunners for his signature. Fulham are the latest Premier League club to show an interest in Hackney, whose contract at the Riverside Stadium expires in 2027.

Spurs and Manchester United have been keeping close tabs on the England youth international’s performances in the Championship and could firm up their interest. Rob Edwards’ promotion-challenging Boro would want to keep him beyond January, but it remains to be seen whether they can resist big-money offers from the Premier League in the New Year if it arrives.

Hackney would be a smart addition to Tottenham’s midfield ranks

As per reports from September, Thomas Frank has prioritised the signing of a new central midfielder during the January transfer window. A box-to-box midfielder appears to be on the Danish tactician’s agenda, and a player in the ilk of Hackney would fit the bill perfectly.

Yves Bissouma is expected to move on in the New Year after failing to secure a transfer away in the summer, while Pape Matar Sarr will leave the club for AFCON in December. And despite Rodrigo Bentancur penning a new improved deal, the Lilywhites would require a new midfielder to keep their squad depth intact.

Hackney’s age, versatility, leadership quality and ceiling meet the requirements of a player Spurs’ recruitment have been looking. The Redcar-born talent would be a potential good replacement for Bissouma, whilst improving the depth of the midfield ranks. Tottenham should ideally have an advantage over Man United due to them competing in the Champions League this season.

That said, the Lilywhites must try their best to sign Hackney in the winter window.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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