Everton Target Middlesbrough Midfielder Hayden Hackney for £20‑30m

Everton have opened talks with Middlesbrough over the signing of Hayden Hackney, with the club reportedly valuing the 23‑year‑old midfielder at around £20 million. Middlesbrough hold firm on that figure despite Hackney having only twelve months left on his contract. Hackney, named Championship Player of the Season, played a central role as Middlesbrough reached the Sky Bet Championship play‑off final, where they lost 1‑0 to Hull City at Wembley. Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to Manchester City, said the early £10 million estimate was far too low and suggested a realistic price range of £20 million to £30 million given Hackney’s quality and Premier League potential. David Ornstein reported that Hackney prefers a move to Merseyside, with Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur also among the interested clubs, while Manchester United are not expected to pursue him seriously. Everton need a defensive midfielder to replace Idrissa Gana Gueye, and Hackney fits David Moyes’s system perfectly; the Toffees collected just three points from their final seven matches of the 2025‑26 season, increasing pressure on Moyes to rebuild. Hackney has taken a brief holiday, and Everton’s recruitment team aims to complete the deal before the World Cup, urging the club to settle the fee, finalize personal terms, and provide Moyes with the midfielder he requires.