Ashley Phillips is expected to join Middlesbrough from Tottenham
Middlesbrough are getting closer on the signing of Ashley Phillips from Tottenham Hotspur, as their impressive summer window continues.
In what would be a second permanent signing from Spurs this summer following the arrival of striker Will Lankshear, a deal has been agreed between the two clubs for the centre-back, which will see Boro pay an initial £7m fee.
It comes after the club announced Max Arfsten as the fifth summer signing, and then advanced talks with Manchester United and close in on the signing of goalkeeper Radek Vitek soon after.
Now, they're progressing on Phillips too, with the centre-back now able to travel and complete the formalities of the move from his side, including his medical.
Boro are now confident they've won the race for the highly-rated 21-year-old, who was their top centre-back target. A central defender became a priority after Dael Fry’s decision to leave for Birmingham City at the end of his contract.
Despite his age, Phillips has considerable Championship experience. He spent the last two seasons on loan at Stoke City and also had a half-season spell at Plymouth Argyle during their time in the second tier.
On top of that, Phillips graduated from the Blackburn academy. In total at the three Championship clubs, he's already made over 100 appearances in the English second tier.
It's understood that Blackburn will be due a percentage of the fee agreed between Boro and Spurs, as part of the sell-on fee they agreed in the compensation package when Phillips left for North London.
Phillips is expected to become Boro’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window, with Vitek currently expected to be announced before him as the sixth.
They join Myles Peart-Harris, Kyle Joseph, Will Lankshear, Sebastian Berhalter and Arfsten at the Riverside, and represent the vast majority of Boro's summer priorities being ticked off with the Championship kick off still over a week away.
Outgoings will be required as Boro's squad now surpasses the 25-player registration limit, but, if possible, Boro would still like to sign a wide forward and possibly another central midfielder too.
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