Tottenham have entered the race for Hayden Hackney and rival Crystal Palace for the Middlesbrough midfielder’s signature in the summer.

According to The Sun, a host of clubs are eagerly monitoring the situation with Hayden Hackney, with Tottenham the latest to enter the race. The North Londoners are in the market for young signings, and the Middlesbrough star could be someone they might think about investing in, as others like Crystal Palace hold an interest.

Hayden Hackney has been a key man for Middlesbrough despite their inability to gain promotion from the Championship last season. As a consequence, the club are expected to cash in on some of their prized assets, with the midfielder one of them, as the team are eager to achieve at least £20 million.

The report states that Middlesbrough have already rejected a 9 million bid from FC Porto, and are holding out for significantly more. However, they are not in a rush to sell the player just yet, as Hackney will be part of the England setup at the U-21 Euros this summer, and a host of scouts are set to keep watch on his performances for Lee Carsley’s men.

Crystal Palace have held an interest from earlier, and it is believed they are still in the mix to sign the midfielder. The Eagles have already won the FA Cup which gives them access to next season’s Europa League, which could be a big selling point when attracting top talents. They might also feel that the £20 million-rated Championship midfield sensation will be in an affordable range.

The big challenge for Palace is the entry of Tottenham in the race for Hakcney, as Spurs scouts are set to keep watch on the midfielder during the U-21 Euros. They might provide their observations on the player before Tottenham decide on whether to make the move.

Will Tottenham sign Hayden Hackney?

Despite an abysmal league season, Tottenham managed to win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League through that victory over Manchester United. Over the last few years, they have thoroughly invested in top young talents, and the lure of top-tier European football could help them bring in some of the best young talents from around.

They are also planning to sell Yves Bissouma, which could open up space for someone like Hackney to come in and challenge for a spot in the team. If the player grows into a prominent role at Spurs, they could then view the £20 million as a brilliant investment for the future.