West Ham United may compete with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to sign 23-year-old Englishman Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough this summer.
According to a report by Give Me Sport, Hayden Hackney is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers are scouring the market for a midfielder and have set their sights on the Middlesbrough prospect. Boro recently agreed to sell the English midfielder to Ipswich Town for a deal worth £20 million before he snubbed the Tractor Boys. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Tottenham are also interested in the player.
Hayden Hackney and his career so far
Hayden Hackney has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the EFL Championship since breaking into the first-team squad at Middlesbrough FC. The Redcar native has been with Boro since 2011 and made his senior bow for the EFL Championship club in January 2021. However, the 23-year-old had to bide his time and wait until the 2022/23 season to enjoy his breakthrough.
Hackney has turned out over 100 times thus far for Boro while chipping in with 11 goals and nine assists. Meanwhile, the English midfielder’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known Premier League clubs. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the summer transfer window.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Manchester United must dip into the market for a holding midfielder this summer amid Casemiro’s advancing age. Additionally, Manuel Ugarte has struggled to make his mark since joining Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. So, Carlos Baleba emerged as the top target for the Red Devils before the deal failed to materialise. They must look for an alternative, and Hackney has emerged as a viable target.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Hayden Hackney is understandable. Yves Bissouma faces an uncertain future at the North London club, and recent reports have linked Rodrigo Bentancur with a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. So, the Englishman is an option worth considering, particularly if the Lilywhites land him for the same £20 million price for which Middlesbrough agreed to sell him to Ipswich Town.
As for West Ham United, Hackney has been on the East London club’s radar for a long time. The continued interest makes sense, considering Guido Rodriguez, Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek, and James Ward-Prowse face an uncertain future at the London Stadium. So, Hackney has emerged as a viable target, and a possible price worth £20 million makes the English midfielder an appealing prospect.
The report has not suggested whether Middlesbrough will continue to demand £20 million to sell the 23-year-old Englishman despite the failed move to Ipswich Town. With West Ham considering a bid, it will be interesting to see if they beat Manchester United or Tottenham to his signature.