Everton are in the market for a midfielder this summer transfer window.
Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucoure are set to leave Everton, so David Moyes’ midfield ranks look very light at the moment.
The Toffees have been looking at Sunderland’s Chris Rigg, but that seems unlikely following their promotion to the Premier League.
Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra is on Moyes’ radar, too, but there is widespread interest in his signature, with Leeds United already making a bid.
With all that said, Everton should really be pushing to land a Championship midfielder who Moyes actually wanted at West Ham United.
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Everton should try to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney
Just a couple of weeks into Moyes’ second tenure at Everton, he made it very clear that the club will be looking to recruit from the Championship moving forward.
“We continue to look closer to home, which is the Championship,” Moyes explained back in January.
“Last year, the Championship produced some incredible players like (Morgan) Rogers, (Adam) Wharton, (Jaden) Philogene possibly. The Championship is always a place we should be looking to see.”
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With that in mind, the Toffees should try to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, who is believed to be valued at around £20m.
Hackney is being tipped for a bright future and is a regular for England’s under-21s, with Lee Carsley’s side currently away at the European Championships.
The 22-year-old is statistically one of the best passers in the Championship, ranking in the top one per cent in Europe for progressive passes per 90 compared to his positional peers, according to FBref data.
He also sits in the top three per cent for progressive carries, evincing his exceptional dribbling ability from midfield.
Hackney would be the perfect Doucoure replacement, and Moyes knows all about him.
David Moyes wanted Hackney at West Ham United
It was widely reported that Moyes was looking into a deal to sign Hackney a little over a year ago when he was West Ham United’s manager.
At the time, the Scotsman was eyeing the Boro star as a Kalvin Phillips replacement, but when he left his position, those rumours went quiet.
Now at Everton and with a healthy budget at his disposal, it wouldn’t at all be surprising to see Moyes reignite his interest in Hackney.
A £20m deal is certainly feasible, but there is significant competition, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur circling.