Middlesbrough are in advanced negotiations with Tottenham to sign 21-year-old central defender Ashley Phillips, according to Sky Sports.
The Championship side are pushing to finalise a permanent deal as manager Kim Hellberg looks to strengthen his defence.
Phillips, who joined Spurs in the summer of 2023, has found opportunities limited in North London.
He has since spent successive loan spells gaining valuable first-team experience—first at Plymouth Argyle and most recently during two separate stints at Stoke City—accumulating significant Championship pedigree as an England youth international.
However, Phillips was left out of Spurs’ pre-season tour, signalling that the club are open to a permanent departure.
Middlesbrough have identified Phillips as a primary target to reinforce their backline with commanding physicality, technical composure, and aerial strength.
The Teessiders have actively targeted top young British talent this transfer window, having already completed a permanent move for fellow Tottenham academy forward Will Lankshear.
Boro’s recruitment team believe Phillips fits the ideal profile to slot straight into their system, offering both immediate starting quality and long-term developmental upside.
Phillips is valued at around £12m, and former club Blackburn Rovers are understood to be monitoring the deal closely due to a sell-on clause included in his initial transfer to Tottenham.
For Phillips, a permanent move to Riverside Stadium represents a crucial step in his career. After several loan spells in the Championship, settling at an ambitious contender provides the stability he needs to establish himself as a top central defender.
As talks reach their final stages, Middlesbrough hope to wrap up the deal quickly and integrate Phillips into the squad before competitive action gets underway.