Tottenham Hotspur are in line to sign multiple midifelders this summer transfer window, and there are a minimum of two on the wish list of manager Roberto De Zerbi, with possibly three being signed pending the fate of Lucas Bergvall, who recently submitted a transfer request.
De Zerbi 100 percent wants both Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, who could cost nearly 200 million pounds combined. They are by far the dream targets for Spurs. But other midfielders have been linked this transfer window. Alex Scott and Adam Wharton are on the list, and at the beginning of the transfer window, young MIddlesborough deep lying playmaker Hayden Hackney was frequently linked to Spurs.
And Hackney will be headed to a bigger Premier League club this summer, but it will not be Spurs. Because Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that a deal has been settled for Hackney to move from Middlesborough to Everton, joining one of the best midfielders of the 2025/26 season in James Garner - the one who got away from Manchester United.
Archie Gray can breathe easier
Hackney joining Everton before July is further confirmation that despite the transfer links, Roberto De Zerbi did not want the player. Hayden Hackney was not really high on De Zerbi's list, certainly not like Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. It is easy to see why on the grounds of quality and fit, with De Zerbi wanting players who can help push Tottenham Hotspur from 17th to 5th.
But the biggest winner is Archie Gray, because he was for Tottenham a couple of years ago what Hackney was this summer. Gray was signed for even more money as an even more promising player from Leeds United, making the jump to a higher level to Spurs.
Gray did not play much for De Zerbi at the end of the 2025/26 season, but unlike Lucas Bergvall, he has not submitted a transfer request. Plus, he was a lot better than the Swedish international when he did play in 2025/26, with De Zerbi making it clear to the public that just because Gray was not playing, does not mean he lacked a future under the manager.
By not going after Hackney at all and essentially allowing Everton to sign him with no contest, De Zerbi is backing Archie Gray. He is saying that he only wants Gray as his deep lying playmaker of the future to develop behind Tonali and the others. Hackney would have been a big blow to Gray, so this transfer confirms Gray is still a key part of the future.
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