What Hayden Hackney's move to Everton means for James Garner after transfer agreement

Hayden Hackney's expected move to Everton brings up an important conversation about James Garner.

David Moyes was keen to add a new midfielder to his ranks this summer, and that looks to be the first order of business.

The Toffees have agreed an initial fee of £16.5million with Middlesbrough for their Championship Player of the Season winner.

Added bonuses could see the deal reach £25m, with £3m worth of clauses related to England appearances and Champions League qualification.

Hackney's move to Hill Dickinson appears imminent, and a medical could be followed by an official announcement as early as this week.

Now, Garner looks set to have a new midfield partner in crime, which may give him a slightly different role next season.

Hayden Hackney's move will force James Garner to change playstyle

Garner featured alongside Idrissa Gana Gueye for most of last season, with the latter acting as the battler in midfield.

Gueye would have responsibility for winning the ball back, and while Garner did too, he had more freedom to roam forward, hence the uptick in his attacking output.

However, Hackney's arrival would change the dynamic in midfield and lighten the physicality.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as the Englishman's ability to drive a team up the pitch was second-to-none in the Championship last season, and he even had some of the best stats for progressive passers in the whole of Europe.

Garner may find himself in a more reserved role next season, with less of a license to get forward, especially due to Hackney's tendency to often linger in the final third.

Everton's player of the season will have more duty than ever to win the ball back for his side, though his playstyle suits Hackney's in the modern game.

However, the whole picture in the middle of park could be about to change for Moyes.

Hackney arrival could also have knock-on effect for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Everton's £25m agreement for Hackney may be more significant than some think.

The Blues' whole midfield dynamic could be changing, and that also includes Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Hackney is much more of an attacking midfielder, but has never really been played in the number 10 role, and has always had that sweeper midfielder behind him.

While Garner will have to be that man, his natural attacking nature is bound to come out in some moments.

The 25-year-old showed his ability in the final third last season, as highlighted by Alex Bruce on BBC Radio 5 Live on 5 October, calling the midfielder "wonderful" for his passing quality in Everton's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

That being said, Moyes has a duty to place more defensive responsibility on Dewsbury-Hall when Everton are out of possession next season.

It will be an interesting triangle in midfield, but the optics suggest it will bring more good to Everton than bad.