Tottenham Hotspur are showing an interest in signing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, with Spurs 'dreaming' of securing his signature, according to a report from TEAMtalk.
It's been a busy start to the January transfer window for the Spurs hierarchy, with one incoming and one outgoing within Thomas Frank's senior squad so far. Brennan Johnson made the short trip across London to join Crystal Palace at the beginning of the window, while Spurs have recently confirmed the signing of Conor Gallagher in the middle of the park.
Their business doesn't appear to be ending there, with Santos left-back Souza set to undergo a medical this week ahead of completing his move to north London. After such a disappointing opening half of the Premier League season, it's certainly no surprise that Tottenham are still in the market for reinforcements.
Tottenham Eyeing Another Midfielder After Gallagher
According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are exploring a move to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Hackney, who has been slapped with a £30m price tag. It's claimed that Spurs are 'dreaming' of signing the England youth international, but they face competition from a host of other Premier League clubs.
Boro believe that they are unlikely to see a club match their valuation in the current window, and they are reluctant to sell him in the January market. If they fail to achieve promotion, then Hackney could become more attainable.
Hackney would offer Spurs something different in midfield, especially in comparison to Gallagher. The Middlesbrough man is more of a progressive player who loves to drive with the ball and play forward, whereas Gallagher is known for his defensive work rate and winning the ball back from the opposition.
Hackney's a Different Profile to Gallagher
As mentioned, Hackney would offer something different from Gallagher, which is why a move for the former would make sense alongside the latter. Scouted Ftbl described Hackney as being 'on another planet' in terms of progressing the ball, whereas Gallagher is a midfielder more likely to help out with the defensive side of the game.
If both players arrive through the door, then Thomas Frank will have a difficult task fitting them in alongside his current options. Rodrigo Bentancur is currently on the sidelines for an extended period due to injury, but Spurs still have the likes of Archie Gray, Joao Palhinha, and Lucas Bergvall as options in the middle of the park.