Hayden Hackney opens door to Tottenham move after scouting mission
Middlesbrough midfield star Hayden Hackney has attracted a lot of high-profile interest from Premier League clubs since the summer transfer window.
Boro accepted a £20million offer from Ipswich Town during the summer, but he was not keen on the move and ultimately remained at the Riverside Stadium.
Instead, he has his sights set on a step up to Premier League football, where the likes of Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and West Ham are among his admirers.
Football Insider revealed in March that Crystal Palace want to sign Hackney and had scouts tracking his performances throughout last season.
Meanwhile, Football Insider first and exclusively revealed in March that Tottenham are interested in signing Hackney, and a considered making a move during the summer.
Tottenham have been ‘watching’ Hackney
Football Insider exclusively revealed in August that Hackney told Middlesbrough he wanted a Premier League move after turning down Ipswich Town.
Tottenham scouts have been keeping tabs on Hackney so far this season, and are believed to have been impressed by his displays in the Championship.
That is according to former Tottenham and Man United senior scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected at his former clubs, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the Middlesbrough star would be keen to join Spurs if the opportunity arose.
“Hackney is going to be on the radar of a lot of clubs,” he told Football Insider.
“Whether Boro would be willing to let him go, I’m not sure, but he’s definitely got enough talent and enough about him to make the step up to the Premier League.
“I’m told Tottenham have been watching him and I expect they’ve been impressed by his performances, so they could be the ones to make a move.
“I still think he has room to improve, but I think he’d be able to go to a team like Tottenham and strengthen their squad and work his way into the starting XI.
“If the opportunity came up for him to go there, whether it’s in January or at the end of the year, it is something he’d be open to.
“He wanted to make that step up to the Premier League in the summer, so if a club like Tottenham were to come calling I think he’d back himself to make a difference.“
Meanwhile, Brown told Football Insider in August that both Everton and Crystal Palace wanted to sign Hackney and considered hijacking Ipswich’s deal.
Thomas Frank makes January transfer plan at Tottenham
Football Insider revealed last month that Frank wasn’t satisfied with Tottenham’s business and still feels his squad can be strengthened in key areas.
Work has already begun to identify transfer targets ahead of the January window, with scouts keeping an eye on a number of options including Hackney.
Alongside the addition of a new midfielder, which remains important due to James Maddison‘s absence, Spurs are keen to bolster in attacking areas.
Antoine Semenyo has emerged as a forward target for Tottenham, while they have been heavily linked with a sensational move to bring Harry Kane back to North London.
After a strong start to the season which has seen them win four, draw two and lose just one of their opening seven games, Frank remains keen to strengthen.
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