Hayden Hackney latest: Everton suggestions ‘laughable’ as Middlesbrough’s true stance revealed

Hayden Hackney is being seriously considered as a summer target by Everton, but Middlesbrough have insisted no formal talks over a transfer have started.

The Toffees are keen to add another midfielder to their ranks this summer, and it’s said they want to make the Boro star their first signing.

However, according to The Northern Echo this Thursday, the suggestions that Everton could sign Hackney for £10million are seen as “laughable”. 

The Teessiders are seriously considering keeping the 23-year-old for the final year of his contract, so long as conditions for a sale are not met. 

Everton are just one team in the race for Hackney, and it’s said that Boro will use the public interest in their player to demand a high fee.

Everton may need to bid £20m at very least for Hackney 

Initial reports suggested Everton could sign Hackney for £20m, and that could be the minimum Middlesbrough demand for the Redcar-born midfielder. 

Only selling the Englishman for £10m does not make sense from a financial standpoint for Boro, and they understand the value of their Championship Player of the Year winner. 

Hackney is in the final 12 months of his deal at the Riverside, but Boro remain ambitious in their attempts to gain promotion next season and want to make as few sales as possible. 

David Moyes’ faces face competition from Crystal Palace, Fulham, Leeds United, Tottenham, Brighton, and Manchester United, with Michael Carrick a big fan of his former talent. 

It is still believed that Everton are leading the race for his signature, and talks have happened at a “lower level”. 

The EFL Championship club are in no rush to sell, and talks may only get serious around the £20m mark. 

 What is Hackney’s stance? 

There was an expectation on Teesside that Hackney would leave Middlesbrough this summer if the club failed to achieve promotion.

Kim Hellberg’s side did, in fact, fail in their promotion push but were without Hackney for the final months of the season, as he came off the bench in the Play-off final defeat to Hull. 

The player himself is said to want a Premier League move this summer and isn’t overly keen on another season in the Championship. 

However, Boro do not see this stance as a reason to force his sale, and Everton could be dragged into a bidding war.