Middlesbrough's next move after Hackney should hinge on one Spurs player | OneFootball

Middlesbrough should sign one of Tottenham Hotspur's players this summer when Hayden Hackney leaves

Middlesbrough barely stand a chance of retaining Hayden Hackney following their Championship play-off final defeat to Hull City.

Hackney won the Championship Player of the Season award, following a stellar campaign in which he scored five goals and produced seven assists in 38 league appearances.

The 23-year-old has played like a star who is ready to make the jump from the second tier to the Premier League, demonstrating both his tenacity and his creativity.

Following their 1-0 defeat to Hull at Wembley Stadium, Middlesbrough will not be able to offer him top-flight football, meaning they could lose their homegrown ace.

Middlesbrough should sign Tottenham Hotspur starlet when Hayden Hackney departs

Thanks to injury, Hackney was unable to feature in Boro's play-off semi-final clashes with Southampton, and featured for just 20 minutes of their Wembley defeat to Hull.

Middlesbrough lost on aggregate to the Saints in their semi-final, but Tonda Eckert's men were kicked out of the competition for spying on the North East club's training session ahead of the first leg.

Southampton were also found to have spied on Oxford United and Ipswich Town in the regular season, and have been handed a four-point deduction ahead of next term.

Meanwhile, Hackney's strong performances in Boro colours haven't gone unnoticed, as he isn't short of external admirers.

According to The Athletic, Hackney is highly regarded by Manchester United and former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, who is now in charge at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old could suffer a lack of game time at Man United, but there are other Premier League suitors interested in his services as he looks to take the next step in his career.

For instance, Football Insider have reported that Brighton and Nottingham Forest have also eyed Hackney amid their respective efforts to bolster their squads ahead of next season.

There is a high chance that Boro will have to replace the talented midfielder this term, and they should look no further than Tottenham Hotspur's Alfie Devine.

Devine already knows what it takes to perform at Championship level, having spent the season on loan with Preston North End, notching eight goals and six assists in 45 league appearances this term.

Like Hackney, the former Wigan Athletic youngster has a keen eye for both goals and assists, while he can operate in a deeper midfield role.

As reported by the Lancashire Post, Preston have the option to sign Devine for £4.5million, but the 21-year-old would still have to accept the move.

Should North End's potential club record deal to sign Devine fall through, Middlesbrough should make their swoop for the Tottenham man's services, as he could prove to be a perfect replacement for Hackney.

Furthermore, Boro would obviously be able to afford the Spurs ace once they make a handsome profit on Hackney.

Alfie Devine would be a wise long-term investment for Middlesbrough

Devine would be an ideal Hackney replacement for Middlesbrough, as he has similar qualities, such as his tendency to retain possession while also being forward-thinking in key moments.

The 21-year-old hasn't made a senior appearance for Tottenham since the 2022/23 season, following his loan spells with Port Vale, Plymouth Argyle, Westerlo, and Preston, so joining either North End or Boro permanently would be key for his own development.

Meanwhile, thanks to his age, the former Argyle loan player has even more potential than Hackney, meaning that Middlesbrough could make a handsome profit by developing and selling him on in the future.

Above all, though, he would make a great Hackney replacement in the short term.