With just under a week of the transfer window to go, we can exclusively reveal that more Premier League clubs are now paying attention to Hayden Hackney as Middlesbrough prepare to lose their star man.
All summer long, Hayden Hackney’s future has been a point of contention for Middlesbrough, with speculation suggesting the midfielder will move on.
However, Boro have survived almost the entire window without losing their prized asset, and Hackney has played a key role in helping Rob Edwards’ side make a perfect start to the season.
We already know Middlesbrough are being ‘realistic’ about Hackney’s future and are braced for more bids, and it sounds like clubs are really starting to circle now in the final stages of the transfer window.
A detailed view of a West Ham crest is seen prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Fulham and West Ham watch Hayden Hackney in action
Earlier this month, Hackney rejected a move to Ipswich Town. It was suspected at the time that he would rather join a Premier League club than a Championship rival.
Now, EFL Analysis understands, thanks to information from our Chief Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey, that there are top flight clubs taking a close look at the 23-year-old, with both West Ham and Fulham present at Carrow Road over the weekend to watch Hackney in action.
They will have got quite the show, too, with Hackney continuing his outstanding start to the season. That form, in front of his Premier League admirers, has got Middlesbrough fearful of a late bid for the player.
The same goes for playmaker Finn Azaz, who scored on Saturday. The Boro pair are attracting a lot of attention now as we head towards transfer deadline day.
Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Middlesbrough FC
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Hayden Hackney in top form for 2025/26
Middlesbrough have been one of the surprise packages in the Championship so far this season, registering three wins out of three, and Hackney has been at the heart of that.
He’s got a goal and an assist to his name already, but his displays are about much more than that, of course.
Statistics Hayden Hackney 2025/26
Goals 1
Assists 1
Pass success 84.7%
Progressive passes per 90 5.33
Shot-creating actions per 90 3.00
Goal-creating actions per 90 0.67
Data via FBRef
Hackney has registered an 84.7% pass success rate, which includes an average of 5.33 progressive passes per 90.
The young midfielder has also been instrumental further up the pitch, clocking 3.0 shot-creating actions per 90 and 0.67 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes.