- The Blues are closing in on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney today.
- A fresh twenty million pound package has unlocked the stalled negotiations.
- The midfield starlet has made clear he wants the Everton transfer.
Everton are progressing rapidly in talks to sign Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney for a fee around £20m, finally moving the saga on from those rejected opening bids and threatening interest from Crystal Palace.
As the Toffees prepare for their second full season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the reality of what this squad needs under David Moyes is clear. If they are to improve on last season’s mid-table finish, the midfield needs a serious injection of energy and quality.
Hayden Hackney looks increasingly likely to be that man.
We’ve covered Everton’s tracking of the Middlesbrough midfielder extensively on these pages over the last few weeks, but the saga finally looks to be moving toward a concrete conclusion. According to a fresh report from The Times, the club is progressing rapidly in talks to sign the 23-year-old.
The proposed fee is understood to be around £20m, with a deal structure that is expected to include sizable, performance-related bonuses.
Midfield priority
This feels like the sensible breakthrough most Evertonians have been waiting for. Until now, the pursuit of Hackney had felt frustratingly close to stalling. A string of rejected opening bids – hovering around the £12m and £15m marks – had left things in limbo, and with Crystal Palace waiting in the wings, there was a genuine worry they’d get left behind. Evertonians have been there before.
By increasing the package closer to Boro’s valuation, the club has finally taken control of the situation. It seems. It also shows a welcome level of intent from the recruitment team to secure Moyes’s primary target before pre-season gets underway.
Player power
Crucially, the player himself has helped tip the scales. Hackney has made it clear to the hierarchy at the Riverside that he wants the move to Merseyside. He wants to play for Moyes, and he wants Premier League football at the Hill Dickinson.
In today’s market, a £20m fee for a proven Championship talent who is comfortable on the ball and possesses a genuine engine is good business. He fits the profile of what Everton need: young, hungry, and ready to compete alongside James Garner.
Wrapping it up
There is still work to be done, of course, but the shift in momentum is clear. Rather than letting this drag out into an even more protracted saga, the club has stepped up to meet the valuation of a priority target.
If they can get this over the line shortly, it gives Moyes a vital piece of the puzzle, and they can move on to the next one.
