The latest news from Middlesbrough and their Championship rivals.
Several Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney in recent months - and a new club is now said to be keen on the Boro academy product.
Hackney’s performances have brought links with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United over the last six months - but it was another Premier League club that were reported to have made a late move for the academy graduate during the final days of the January transfer window. After weeks of speculation, Nottingham Forest reportedly made a move for the midfielder on the final day of the window - but their approach was immediately rejected by Boro as they remained firm in their stance Hackney will remain part of their bid for promotion into the top flight.
A new name has appeared on Hackney’s list of suitors after TeamTalk claimed Leeds have ‘joined the race’ to sign the England Under-21 international - although the report has also stated any move could be jeopardised if Boro secure promotion into the top flight this season. Hackney’s current contract runs out during the summer of 2027 and TeamTalk claim that could mean this summer will be the last chance Boro have to secure a sizeable fee for their prize asset. Boro boss Kim Hellberg spoke about Hackney’s future during the January transfer window as he admitted he was not surprised top flight clubs were keen on the midfielder.
He said: "I like him very much and if I could decide I would say 'not for sale!' But that will not come down to me. But I think he wants to stay here, you can see him being very, very happy and how he works. So hopefully he's with us this year and further on. He is very important, of course. He's a top player and a top person. He is top in every aspect of the game. I think he's defending good, he's good offensively, he's helping his team-mates and I've said that before. I think his most impressive thing is how he is as a person because he could be easily, like you start thinking about other things when you get those big clubs that are after you. They should be after him, because he's a top player and I think he would be able to play in a lot of Premier League teams and do well, because that's how good he is.”
Championship club ‘on the brink’ of naming new manager ahead of Boro visit
Leicester City have been handed a points penalty.placeholder image
Leicester City have been handed a points penalty. | Getty Images
Middlesbrough will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat at Coventry City when they face a home double header against Oxford United and Leicester City over the coming days - and the latter of those clubs are reportedly closing in on the appointment of a new manager.
Leicester have been without a manager since they parted company with Marti Cifuentes at the end of last month after the former QPR boss left them looking nervously over their shoulders at the battle against relegation into League One. Fears over the drop were increased when the Foxes were handed a six-point deduction and that has left them in the drop zone ahead of this weekend’s visit to Stoke City.
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