Brighton and Fulham take Hayden Hackney action - Kim Hellberg and Middlesbrough face transfer fight | OneFootball

Hayden Hackney's future is once again the subject of speculation ahead of the January window

Brighton and Fulham both watched Hayden Hackney’s performance against Hull City amid a potential January approach for the Middlesbrough star.

According to Teamtalk, the two Premier League sides are keen on the 23-year-old following his impressive first half of the campaign.

Hackney has come through the Boro academy system, and has cemented himself as a key part of the first team squad since making his senior breakthrough under Michael Carrick during 2022/23.

The midfielder was the subject of intense speculation during the summer transfer window, with the Teesside outfit accepting a £20 million offer from Ipswich that he ultimately rejected.

He has since contributed three goals and four assists from 19 appearances in the Championship this season, with Middlesbrough competing for automatic promotion to the top flight.

Brighton and Fulham eye Hayden Hackney swoop

Brighton and Fulham both sent scouts to watch Hackney play for Middlesbrough in their 4-1 win over Hull last Friday night.

Kim Hellberg’s side were dominant against a potential promotion rival, going 4-0 up after 44 minutes to maintain their place inside the top two.

It’s believed that Hackney’s immediate future was discussed during the recent hiring process involving the Swedish coach, who took over the first team in late November.

The 37-year-old was reportedly told that the club have no interest in cashing in on the 23-year-old in the January window as they push for promotion to the Premier League.

It’s understood that last January’s sale of Emmanuel Latte Lath has been cited as a key reason why the team were unable to earn a play-off place last year, with Carrick overseeing a 10th place finish, missing out on the top six by four points.

So Middlesbrough are keen to avoid a similar situation derailing Hellberg’s side now, with the team sitting second in the table ahead of Tuesday’s clash away to Charlton Athletic.

Middlesbrough must do everything to keep Hayden Hackney in January

The Latte Lath example from last season is just one of many sales in recent years where the team got undermined midway through the campaign, with Morgan Rogers’ departure the campaign before also hurting Carrick’s side.

Middlesbrough must avoid making the same mistake yet again, and keeping Hackney is a must for their promotion hopes.

The midfielder has been an excellent part of the side this season, and he is really coming into his own now that he is staying fit and performing consistently.

It’s no surprise Premier League clubs are looking at him, and if Boro aren’t promoted this season then there’s every chance he’ll depart in the summer.