West Ham United are now considering a deadline week move to sign Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney as the Hammers look to bolster their midfield (h/t [Jacob Steinberg](https://x.com/JacobSteinberg/status/1959961976051786129)).
The Irons are in dire need of midfield reinforcement but have not managed to bring in anyone.
However, after two shambolic Premier League showings, the club might finally spring to action.
Hackney would be a fantastic addition to the West Ham ranks if the club can get their hands on him. He is a progressive midfielder who can start attacks with his passes between the lines.
The West Ham target took the Championship by storm last term, dictating games with a maturity beyond his years.
Hackney completed more successful passes (2,625) than any other midfielder in the league, underlining his ability to control possession and set the tempo.
But the 23-year-old, who is now on the West Ham radar, isn’t just a recycler of the ball.
He ranked 12th for key passes (66) and was fourth for accurate through-balls (16), showing a sharp eye for unlocking defences.
Defensively, he adds bite. The England youth international won 93 tackles, putting him among the league’s top 20 midfield ball-winners.
Hackney also carries the ball with purpose, ranking 17th for progressive carries (118) and completing 39 successful dribbles.
For a West Ham side crying out for energy, control, and incision from midfield, Hackney ticks every box.
[Lauded by former Boro boss Michael Carrick as ‘terrific’](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23179117.middlesbrough-carrick-hails-hackney-midfielder-signs-new-deal/), he looks like the kind of long-term signing who could transform the Hammers’ engine room.
James Ward-Prowse was tipped to be West Ham’s midfield metronome after a bright pre-season, but his league form has disappointed.
Too often, the Hammers lack drive and invention when he’s on the pitch. Hackney offers exactly that blend of control, bite, and progression that Ward-Prowse has struggled to provide.
Slotting him in could revitalise West Ham’s midfield, giving under-fire head coach Graham Potter a more dynamic option to replace a fading influence.
_Stats from Opta_