Tottenham Hotspur Have Set Their Sights On This EFL Championship Midfielder: Should Spurs Go For Him? | OneFootball

In a recent report, The Sun claimed that Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney. It has been stated that Spurs are eyeing a move to bring the English talent to North London this summer.

Hackney’s Decent Form In The EFL Championship

Hackney had an impressive campaign at Middlesbrough recently after he put in a string of consistent performances for them at the centre of the park. The 22-year-old found the back of the net five times and secured three assists in 44 matches for the Boro last season across various competitions.

The Redcar-born talent gave a good account of himself and deserves credit for attempting 1.90 shots per 90 minutes in the EFL Championship. He kept 30% of his attempts on target. Hackney even distributed possession relatively well from midfield as he completed 83.7% of his attempted passes in the second tier of English football (stats via fbref.com).

His current contract at the English club will expire in the summer of 2027. Therefore, it would be difficult for Spurs to sign him on a cut-price deal in this transfer period.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Middlesbrough FC at Bramall Lane on February 12, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Should Tottenham Hotspur Go For Hackney This Summer?

Hackney is a good tackler of the ball and usually works hard for his team defensively. He can strike the ball with power from long range and has got the vision to play some decisive passes in the final third.

The English sensation can make a few clever runs with the ball as well from midfield. He is primarily a defensive midfielder but can also play as a box-to-box midfielder or function in the number ten position if told to do so by his manager.

We can expect Hackney to bring more energy and dynamism to Tottenham‘s midfield department. He is more than capable of challenging for a regular starting place at the North London club next season.

At 22, Hackney has got the potential to be a future star in English football. Therefore, Spurs should focus on going for a player of his skill set before the end of this transfer window. However, Tottenham need to be patient with his development as the talented midfielder might need some time to adjust to life in Premier League football.