Everton transfer news: Toffees ‘in pole position’ to sign award-winning Man Utd-linked midfielder with ‘preference’ revealed

Everton are reportedly starring the contention for in-demand Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer.

The Toffees are expected to fortify their squad up of the caller play aft missing retired connected European qualification successful the 2025-26 campaign, finishing 13th successful the Premier League table.

Midfield reinforcements are thought to beryllium precocious connected the docket for manager David Moyes, who peculiarly relied connected the brilliance of James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall successful the mediate of the transportation past season.

Idrissa Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam, Merlin Rohl and Carlos Alcaraz are different cardinal midfield options astatine Moyes’s disposal, though the erstwhile is owed to spot his existent declaration expire astatine the extremity of the period and turns 37 years of property successful September.

One midfielder who has been linked with a determination to the Hill Dickinson Stadium successful caller months is 23-year-old Hackney, who is expected to permission Middlesbrough this summertime aft missing retired connected Premier League promotion.

Everton starring the contention for Hackney amid Premier League interest

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest allegedly had approaches rebuffed successful January, but the Premier League duo are thought to clasp an involvement successful the England Under-21 international.

A caller study claims that Manchester United - present managed by ex-Middlesbrough brag Michael Carrick - are ‘increasingly likely’ to marque a determination for Hackney, portion Tottenham Hotspur person besides been credited with an interest.

However, The Athletic reports that Hackney’s penchant is to articulation Everton, which puts them successful rod presumption to triumph the contention for his signature this summer.

Negotiations betwixt Everton and Middlesbrough are yet to commence, but arsenic soon arsenic Hackney has finalised his decision, talks volition travel up of immoderate woody being agreed.

Hackney volition soon beryllium entering the last 12 months of his declaration astatine the Riverside Stadium and helium should correspond bully worth for wealth for buying clubs.

Moyes an admirer of Championship Player of the Season Hackney

Meanwhile, Sky Sports News claims that Hackney has been connected Moyes’s radar for immoderate clip and is precocious among the midfield names Everton are considering making a bid for.

Hackney, who has antecedently been valued astatine astir £25m, made what could beryllium to beryllium his 154th and last quality for Middlesbrough arsenic a substitute successful the Championship playoff last decision to Hull City past month.

The midfielder was named Championship Player of the Season aft a stellar 2025-26 run for Boro, scoring 5 goals and providing 8 assists successful 38 games arsenic a deep-lying midfielder.

Hackney has chiefly operated successful deeper midfield positions, but helium is competent drifting forward, with nary Championship subordinate averaging much than his 35.7 touches successful the attacking 3rd per 90 minutes past season.

The Redcar-born endowment has spent his full vocation astatine Middlesbrough, joining their academy astatine Under-10s level and worked his mode done the club's younker ranks earlier making his elder debut successful January 2021, but a Premier League determination is seemingly connected the cards this summer.