🔵 Everton are pursuing Hayden Hackney and he would keen on a move that would cost in the region of £10m; David Moyes has made it clear his club must show ambition this summer to keep progressing ✏️ First published on Tuesday... telegraph.co.uk/football/202…

🚨 The League Arbitration Panel's full written reasons on #SaintsFC spying on Middlesbrough: "On Monday 4 May 2026, Mr Eckert attended a match preparation meeting with his coaching and analyst teams. At that meeting, he asked whether it would be possible to see Middlesbrough train that week – he was particularly interested to see whether a particular player, Hayden Hackney, was training or not, because there were differing reports as to his fitness – and it was agreed that someone would be identified to go to Middlesbrough’s training ground. The Junior Analyst Intern was again chosen. "Analyst 2 told him that he (Analyst 2) had disagreed with this course when Mr Eckert proposed it. The Junior Analyst Intern said that he felt under extreme pressure due to the context of the importance of the game for the Club. He feared that he might be dismissed by the Club or it might otherwise adversely affect his career if he did not do it. So, he went. He felt bound to take videos on his phone because (as he said in a message to Analyst 1 after he was caught), he felt pressurised by the coaches: “With them all telling me they want more out of it than what I got at Oxford as got it wrong etc they clearly don’t think my word is good enough so wallop there’s your footage”. "At one stage, Analyst 1 suggested to him that he might not go to the Middlesbrough training session, but simply report back that security there was too tight to make any observations and Mr Eckert would be none the wiser. "The Operations Manager made arrangements for the flights and two nights’ accommodation. Before he left, the Junior Analyst Intern was shown drone footage of the Middlesbrough training facilities so that he could get an idea of where to stand. He flew up to Middlesbrough on Wednesday 6 May. The Junior Analyst Intern was told that Mr Eckert was unhappy because he did not fly up on the Tuesday so that he could see the Wednesday training session; but the first flight he could get was on the Wednesday. "On Thursday 7 May, he walked from his hotel to the training ground, arriving at about 10.40am. The first team training session started at 11.15am. He identified where the first team were training at about 11.30am, and he proceeded to record three videos on his phone from behind a tree. "After a few minutes, four people began walking towards him, and he sent the videos to Analyst 1 who sent Mr Eckert information from the videos including the projected Middlesbrough line up (including Mr Hackney). The Junior Analyst Intern started to move rapidly away, but one of the men ran and caught him up. "The Junior Analyst Intern said he was “just watching”, and the man asked him to delete the videos which he did. He then walked on to a nearby golf clubhouse where he changed and deleted his LinkedIn profile because he was worried that Middlesbrough would recognise him from that. "The Junior Analyst Intern then left the area and went back to his hotel from where he rang Analyst 1 who told him to wait there until Mr Eckert agreed he should return to Southampton. After some time, the Junior Analyst Intern not having received any confirmation, left of his own accord, returning to Southampton by train. It was while he was on the train that he learned from the internet news that Southampton had been caught “spying” on Middlesbrough. "Analyst 1 provided Mr Eckert with a breakdown of what he interpreted from the videos, including a predicted line up and (Analyst 1 said) it showed how, when Southampton built up on the left side, Middlesbrough would press man-to-man. It was predicted from what had been seen that Mr Hackney would play. "Analyst 1 suggested they ask the media team to take down or hide the manager of the month pictures online, because the Junior Analyst Intern featured in the background: “The only way they can put his face from CCTV with [Southampton] as he’s deleted his LinkedIn picture. Just got to hope they won’t put the 2 together”. He asked Mr Eckert whether he wished to see the videos, and he said he did. Analyst 1 also shared the videos with Analyst 3, upon request, on the Friday before the match. "Mr Eckert said the videos were of poor quality, taken from far distance and it was difficult to work out who was who – and, so, they were of no benefit to him, nor was Analyst 1’s interpretation of them. He said neither impacted on his preparation for the match. "Mr Eckert said that they had decided on formation by the Wednesday, Thursday was a day off for staff and Friday was devoted to set pieces; and, so, the videos received on the Thursday had no effect on the preparations for the game. In the event, Mr Hackney was not in Middlesbrough’s line up for the match."

🚨💣 BREAKING: Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, here we go! Official bid accepted now by Newcastle board and Saudi owners. €70m fixed fee plus add-ons to bring final package over €80m for #NUFC. Gordon set to travel this week for medical and contract signing at FCB. 🔵🔴✈️

Morgan Whittaker via Instagram 🔴 #UTB 📲 IG/morganwhittaker_

EUROPA LEAGUE FOOTBALL IS COMING TO SUNDERLAND!

Teesside Takeover complete. Our day will come. (1/2)

McGree’s movement between the lines vs Hull was brilliant for Boro. His scanning, awareness of passing lanes opening and timing consistently helped create overloads and bypass Hull’s shape. Been a standout all season.