Everton face a huge summer, with Hayden Hackney seemingly high on their agenda.
The Toffees have had a great season so far, and are still in with a chance of bringing European football to Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool was a real sickener.
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
But with the Premier League table so tight, the 2-1 defeat was merely a setback, not a total disaster.
But Everton can ill afford too many more slip ups, and must finish the campaign strongly to stave off their rivals.
Planning can then begin for the summer, although work has probably already begun behind the scenes.
And Hayden Hackney is a player Everton greatly admire, and a mixed update has arrived on the 23-year-old.
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Everton in pole position for Hayden Hackney, but he is extremely coveted
Hayden Hackney playing for Middlesbrough.
Photo by Trevor Wilkinson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hackney is back in the headlines having just scooped the Championship Player of the Season award, beating the likes of Femi Azeez, Carl Rushworth and top scorer in the league Zan Vipotnik.
It’s a deserved win for Hackney, who has produced a string of all action displays for Middlesbrough and been key in their push for promotion.
His performances have caught the eye of Everton, who are now reported by TEAMtalk to be in pole position to sign him this summer.
However, there could be need for the Toffees to get to work quickly.
Because the publication say that ‘more than half the Premier League are following Hackney’.
Hackney contract situation gives Everton hope of good deal
At the moment, Hackney is contracted to Middlesbrough until the summer of 2027.
That means that Boro aren’t in a particularly strong position over their star man.
The situation could well change if Boro gain promotion to the Premier League, as they’d then be in a better position to sell their project to Hackney.
But even then, TEAMtalk say it’s ‘far from guaranteed’ that Hackney signs an extension. So potentially there’s a world in which he still changes clubs if Boro do get promoted.
Hayden Hackney playing for England U21s.
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
But news on Everton leading the chase for the player is good news. Because there is little doubt that he is ready for Premier League football and has huge potential.
Everton signing him, though, could potentially cast doubt on the futures of the likes of Charly Alcaraz, Tim Iroegbunam and even Harrison Armstrong.
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