Signing more forward firepower should be top of Middlesbrough's list of summer priorities and Tottenham striker Troy Parrott represents an ideal target. 

The 20-year-old is attracting plenty of Championship interest ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, with Boro, QPR, Preston North End, Sunderland, and Swansea City all linked, and Spurs are said to be open to letting him leave on loan again.

With competition high for Parrott's signature, the Teessiders should look to capitalise on the north London club's interest in Djed Spence to beat their second tier rivals to a deal.

The Times has reported that there has been a breakthrough in negotiations between the two clubs over Spence, with an initial £12 million fee now touted, but with channels of communication clearly still open as the move nears completion, Boro should look to take advantage.

Tagging a loan move for the Republic of Ireland international onto the deal would be a very smart bit of business and would work for both parties given what Spurs are understood to be looking for.

According to football.london, they want to send him somewhere that he will get plenty of minutes as a number nine, having been used as more of a number 10 during an impressive loan spell at MK Dons last season, and that is exactly where Chris Wilder needs to strengthen ahead of the new campaign.

Only one Boro player reached double figures in terms of goals and the North East club were outscored by all of the teams in the top six – highlighting where they need to improve if they're to make the play-offs and challenge for promotion this term.

Wilder's striking department looks bare after Flo Balogun, Aaron Connolly, and Andraz Sporar all returned to their parent clubs.

Chuba Akpom and Uche Ikpeazu have both been told they can leave this summer, which means 19-year-old Josh Coburn and Duncan Watmore are Wilder's only real options.

Boro need to recruit at least two new forwards ahead of the new Championship campaign and Parrott should be one of them.

He scored hatfuls of goals at age-group level for Spurs and after a strong showing in League One last season, looks ready to prove himself in the second tier.

There are plenty of clubs ready to offer him that opportunity but the Spence negotiations could offer Boro an advantage.