Tottenham Hotspur are challenging interest from Chelsea and Manchester United in Isaiah Jones, who could be the sixth Premier League-era deal between Spurs and Middlesbrough.
The 22-year-old has attracted admiring glares from top Premier League clubs after a strong season in the Championship last term. He produced nine assists and scored once across 42 appearances, whilst featuring as a striker, from both wings and also as a right-back.
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Jones is by trade a right-sided winger, but excelled after a defensive switch following Chris Wilder replacing Neil Warnock in November. Even though the London-born dynamo made his second-tier bow on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign, before making 36 starts.
Tottenham among interested clubs after Jones’ breakthrough season at Boro
A stellar run through December after helping toward four clean sheets, scoring at home to Swansea City and assisting two goals at Blackpool saw the Championship name Jones as the Play of the Month. After which, Wilder praised the dynamic star’s displays under him.
“It’s the team performances that have allowed him to play so well,” Wilder told Sky Sports. “But he is an exciting young player, who has clearly caught the eye. It’s his first season at Championship level, and he has been outstanding since we’ve come into the building.”
Now, 90min note Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in Jones and tracked the Middlesbrough talent’s displays last season. TEAMtalk also claimed in February that Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Leeds United, West Ham United and Wolves scouted him, too.
Spurs managing director Fabio Paratici winning any race for Jones’ signature could see him become the sixth transfer between Tottenham and Middlesbrough in the Premier League-era. So, with that in mind, how did the previous five fare in north London and on Teesside?
Woodgate sole Boro player to join Tottenham in Prem-era amid Jones interest
Jonathan Woodgate remains the most recent Middlesbrough player to join Tottenham and the only player to head to north London from Teesside in the Premier League-era for Jones to possibly now follow, amid Spurs showing interest with Chelsea and Manchester United.
Tottenham signed Woodgate from Boro in January 2008 for £7m after two seasons at the Riverside Stadium. He initially moved to Teesside on loan from Real Madrid in 2006 before making a permanent move, and returned to Middlesbrough in 2012 up to retiring in 2016.
The eight-cap England international spent three years in north London before joining Stoke City as a free agent. But Woodgate enjoyed just 65 appearances with Tottenham and had a single-season best of 44 in 2008/09 and would only make a further four outings afterward.
Fredericks last Spurs player to join Middlesbrough with 2014/15 loan spell
Ryan Fredericks is the most recent example of a Tottenham player joining Middlesbrough, after heading to the North East on loan for the 2014/15 campaign. The Spurs product had already enjoyed loan spells at Brentford and Millwall and sealed a permanent exit in 2015.
Bristol City signed Fredericks from Tottenham after he featured in 19 games with Boro and started 18. The right-back had only played four times at Spurs in Europa League ties during the 2011/12 and ‘13/14 campaigns for a combined 204 minutes, two starts and one assist.
Naughton joined Middlesbrough from Tottenham for 2010 short-term loan
Kyle Naughton secured a short-term loan deal to leave Tottenham for Middlesbrough over the second half of the 2009/10 season. Spurs had only signed the right-back from Sheffield United in July 2009 in an £8m double deal with Kyle Walker, but featured just three times.
The Sheffield-born dynamo would turn out 15 times with Boro before joining Leicester City on loan in 2010/11. He also spent 2011/12 at Norwich City, before three seasons in north London up to joining current club Swansea for £5m in January 2015 after 75 appearances.
Mido made Middlesbrough move from Tottenham after two seasons
Mido made his move to Middlesbrough after two-and-a-half seasons at Tottenham in 2007 for £6m. The Egyptian initially joined Spurs on an 18-month loan from AS Roma in January 2005, before completing a permanent switch in 2006 and reaching 61 games for 19 goals.
He would remain on Boro’s books through to 2010 and joining Ajax, but spent time out on loan with Wigan Athletic, Zamalek and West Ham before Mido spent a year in Amsterdam. The 50-cap international also only offered seven goals across 32 games whilst on Teesside.
Boro sealed Barmby swoop in 1995 before cashing in one year later
Middlesbrough sealed a swoop for Tottenham product Nick Barmby in 1995, yet cashed in on the midfielder a year later. The Kingston upon Hull-born ace played 106 times for Spurs after graduating their academy, and turned out 42 times with Boro before joining Everton.
Four years at Goodison Park returned 125 games before Barmby switched Merseyside club to join Liverpool until 2002. A move to Leeds followed, plus a short-term loan to Nottingham Forest, before heading home to Hull City from 2004 to 2012 and making 196 appearances.
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