Hayden Hackney could be a good long term successor to Idrissa Gana Gueye at Everton, amid the emergence of some impressive data.
Everton are set for a big summer, and there are a few positions that will be high on the agenda.
Should Everton be making a summer move for Hayden Hackney at a reported £30m?
Perhaps he'd be a good long-term successor to Idrissa Gana Gueye… 🤔
A custom graphic showing the reported asking price of Hayden Hackney.
Credit: Photo by Trevor Wilkinson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
A new set of full-backs will be paramount, and a new centre-forward who can be clinical in front of goal will also be a focus.
But Everton may also need a new midfield dynamo.
At the moment there is a decent depth for David Moyes.
But many Everton fans have noted that Idrissa Gana Gueye appears to be declining.
Hayden Hackney is on Everton’s radar, and data suggests he could be an ideal successor to the Senegalese veteran.
Everton target Hayden Hackney has brilliant defensive data
Hayden Hackney celebrates for Middlesbrough.
Photo by Trevor Wilkinson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Gueye is famed for his tenacity and combativeness in midfield.
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Ball-winning has been his forte for the longest time, and given that, Everton will need that quality in his replacement.
It is unclear yet just who the long term successor to Gueye will be.
But Hackney certainly wouldn’t be a bad option. In a report published by Squawka, the star currently ranks top for ball recoveries (182) out of outfield players in the 2025/26 Championship campaign.
Also, no player has won possession in the midfield third more times than Hackney (104) in the division.
Furthermore, Hackney has made a combined 76 tackles and interceptions, which is a very respectable haul.
All-rounder Hackney has the playmaking quality to boot
Those numbers do strongly suggest that Hackney would be a great player to bring if Gueye was going to leave.
But here’s where the appeal of Hackney becomes even greater.
He also has great playmaking quality, meaning he is far from one-dimensional.
Hayden Hackney warming up for Middlesbrough.
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Squawka report Hackney has made 639 forward passes so far in the Championship, excluding goalkeepers and centre-backs. That ranks him fourth in the division.
And his 637 complete passes in the final third put him top of the pile.
The competition for Hackney will be fierce this summer. But Everton would perhaps be foolish not to at least test the waters, for a midfielder who looks impressively complete
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