A few days after Everton’s interest in Middlesborough midfielder Hayden Hackney was made known, reliable media sources are now reporting that the Toffees have started talks with a view to signing the Championship Player of the Year award winner. The 23-year-old is entering the final year of his current deal and is said to be interested in the Everton project.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported earlier today that the two clubs have entered negotiations, with previous reports saying that a £10 million
transfer fee could get the deal done with other Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Crystal Palace also watching the player.
Idrissa Gueye has started showing signs of slowing down with age, and there has been recent interest in Tim Iroegbunam from a couple of Bundesliga sides. Everton Player of the Season James Garner had a breakout campaign but has a slightly different profile to Hackney who picked up six goals and eight assists over 41 appearances for Boro this season, to add to five goals and three assists the previous season in 44 games.
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In David Moyes’ 4-2-3-1 Hackney would line up next to Garner in the middle, with the more attack-minded Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in front of the pair. Against an opponent that would control more of the ball though the midfield would likely need more steel.
If Everton were to seal the deal with the player quickly, it would certainly come as a surprise to supporters who are used to long-drawn and protracted negotiations that take weeks, especially with the World Cup commencing next week.
