Everton may have solved one problem with Hayden Hackney – but created another

The World Cup isn't anywhere near over yet but David Moyes already looks as though he's sorted out his biggest gripe with the Everton squad.

Last season promised so much for Evertonians but it ended with disappointment, as the Blues blew what looked like a huge chance to qualify for Europe, only to finish in a lowly 13th-place.

It isn't lost on Everton fans that last season was a huge improvement upon the previous campaigns, in which they'd been deducted points, had genuine relegation concerns and seen Farhad Moshiri almost run the Toffees into extinction.

However, what else was extremely obvious last term was how badly Everton performed with the ball, with the Merseyside club ranking 17th in the Premier League for average posession (43.6%), 17th for average accurate passes per game (303.6) anf 20th for average long balls completed (11.8).

Ultimately, it's not a shock. This is a Moyes team, after all, and the veteran Scottish manager isn't exactly known for his possession-based play.

However, Everton have spent months looking for greater control in midfield, and finally look as though they've got a solution.

Why Hayden Hackney fixes Everton’s biggest creative problem

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackey is reportedly on the verge of joining Everton in a deal worth £25million.

Although Boro missed out on promotion by losing the play-off final to Hull City, 25-year-old Hackney was one of the star players of the 2025-26 Championship season.

The former England Under-21 international, who's also eligible for Scotland, played 41 total matches last term, scoring six goals and supplying eight assists in the process.

Sky Sports reported on Monday afternoon that Everton are currently finalising a £25m package for the deep-lying midfielder.

It seems as though the deal comprises of £16m being paid up front with the rest being made up with add-ons.

Interestingly, Sky Sports adds that Moyes made signing a No 6 - like Hackney - a priority arrival this summer, and that's no shock based on the Boro man's stats, and those of Everton, last season.

Stats by Sofascore show that Hackney finished the season with 8.72 expected assists, created eight big chances, averaged 54.3 accurate passes per match and had a rate 2.2 key passes per Championship matches for the North-East club.

Although he played more games in the Championship and obviously had to deal with weaker opposition, Hackney's key passing stats would have seen him rank highly - and in most cases, top - of Everton's squad in the 2025-26 Premier League.

No Everton played produced more xA than him. No Everton player completed more passes per game than him. No Everton player played more key passes per game than him.

Only James Garner (12) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (10) created more big chances and only Garner (87%) and Idrissa Gana Gueye (87%) had better pass overall accuracy.

Hackney would obviously add more control to Everton's midfield should he complete his £25m move - but control in possession can come at a cost without the ball.

The issue Moyes must now solve if Hackney arrives at Hill Dickinson

While Hackney will arrive as a priority midfield signing for Everton to help them keep control of the ball next season, as well as creating more chances, there is a pay-off.

Hackney is not as strong out of possession than Everton's existing stars, especially Gueye, who the Merseyside-bound man is likely seen as a long-term replacement for.

While both Hackney and Gueye completed the same number of tackles per league game last season (1.7), Gueye averaged 1.1 interceptions compared to Hackney's 0.5.

Hackney (0.9) was also dribbled past more times per game than his Senegalese counterpart (0.8), and had a worse success-rate in ground duels, with the Middlesbrough ace winning 47.5 per cent compared to the Everton star's 56.6 per cent.

There's a lot of good things about this deal. Hackney is a young, up-and-coming deep-lying midfielder who has his best years ahead of him and could flourish on Merseyside with Moyes as his manager.

However, he has his weaknesses - and they're mainly weaknesses that Moyes doesn't like in a player.

Maybe the Everton boss can see a way to train into him to be as strong off the ball as he is in on it, to make Hackney more of a complete player. And, with the experienced Gueye training alongside him, there's a perfect player to help him hone his craft.

But this could also be a new approach for Everton and for Moyes. One that could seriously excite fans next season and take opponents by surprise.