Spurs Turn the Screw in Hackney Chase as Frank Plots Next Midfield Evolution

Tottenham are moving smartly in the market again, positioning themselves at the front of the queue for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney. The word is Spurs see the Boro academy gem as part of a longer play into 2026, yet there’s an openness to strike sooner if the numbers and timing suit all parties.

Under Thomas Frank, Spurs have hit the ground running across the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup, and after a bustling summer that delivered Kota Takai, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani, the recruitment drive isn’t slowing. Hackney’s rise this season has only sharpened the focus.

Why Hackney fits Frank’s blueprint

Hackney is exactly the sort of modern midfielder Frank loves: crisp on the turn, progressive with his passing and brave taking the ball under pressure. Former boss Michael Carrick has raved about the youngster’s ability, and analysts have noted he’s operating on a different level when it comes to carrying teams up the pitch. In a side built on structure and verticality, he looks a snug fit as a left-sided No 8 who can knit phases and set the tempo.

Crucially, Hackney hasn’t let summer distractions dent his form. After a proposed move to Ipswich around the £20m mark went cold, he stayed put and has been one of Boro’s outstanding performers. With Middlesbrough sat top of the Championship and unbeaten in eight, his stock is climbing by the week.

The Spurs midfield logjam

Here’s the rub: getting into this Spurs midfield is no small feat. Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, Yves Bissouma and Archie Gray are all jostling for minutes. Palhinha brings the bite, Bentancur the craft, Sarr and Gray the dynamism, while Bergvall and Bissouma add press resistance. Hackney’s pathway wouldn’t be guaranteed from day one, but his profile offers a blend of control and forward thrust that Frank values when rotating through a heavy schedule.

Timing, fee and Boro’s stance

Middlesbrough would rather keep their academy star through the campaign, and with a contract running to 2027 they’re under no pressure to blink. Even so, a convincing January offer could move the dial. Fulham have looked, among others, but the noise is that Spurs are already out in front and could explore a deal that either lands him mid-season or secures him ahead of 2026 with flexibility on the start date—loan-back included.

For those tracking the market angles, there’s plenty to chew over as the window approaches. If you’re weighing up where the value might land, our best betting sites hub is a handy guide before the odds shift.

Pundit’s verdict

If Spurs can pull this off at the right price, it’s a classic future-proof move—adding a high-ceiling ball-progressor who can be eased in without panic. From Hackney’s side, the decision is simple: fight for minutes now in a Champions League squad, or play every week and revisit the big step in the summer or 2026. Either way, this feels like one of those inevitable Premier League stories—just a matter of when, not if, he makes the jump.