Exclusive: Tottenham and Aston Villa race to sign Middlesbrough sensation
03/22/2025 08:00 AM
Crystal Palace have been joined by Aston Villa and Tottenham in their pursuit of Middlesbrough sensation Hayden Hackney, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that the 22-year-old is widely considered to be one of the best midfielders outside of the Premier League.
As a result, there is a growing feeling he will be prepared to make the step up in divisions this summer as interest in his signature continues to grow.
This comes after former Aston Villa scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Crystal Palace scouts have been watching Hackney with a summer deal in mind.
Palace confirmed on 17 March that Dougie Freedman has left the club to take up a role overseas – but his exit is not expected to significantly derail their plans.
Unai Emery’s side have also been long-term admirers of the Boro star after Paul Robinson told Football Insider in October that Aston Villa want to sign Hackney in a buy-to-loan deal.
Tottenham to rival Aston Villa and Palace for midfield signing
Tottenham are planning to sign a new midfielder this summer after Brown told Football Insider that Ange Postecoglou approved Yves Bissouma’s potential departure.
Spurs have also targeted Lille star Angel Gomes, but are considering a number of options for the position with Hackney the latest on their list.
However, emerging interest from Villa and Palace means Middlesbrough could demand a higher fee for the midfielder in an attempt to spark a bidding war.
Michael Carrick’s side are aiming to achieve promotion from the Championship this season, but have dropped to eighth place, three points short of the playoffs.
Failure to reach the Premier League will greatly weaken their chances of keeping Hackney as top-level interest continues to grow.
Unai Emery eyes two big-name signings at Villa Park
Following their busy January transfer window, Aston Villa have already set their sights on strengthening Emery’s squad come the end of the season.
Two of those January arrivals, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, are now being eyed on permanent deals after a fast start to their spells at Villa Park.
Former Villa scout Brown told Football Insider that Villa are “certain” to agree Asensio’s permanent signing for a “bargain” fee come the end of the season.
However, Man United have upped Rashford’s asking price following his England call-up and are looking to bring in a significant fee for his services amid ongoing financial concerns.
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