Everton Have To Pay £30m For Championship Midfielder: What Should David Moyes Do? | OneFootball

Everton have made contact with Middlesbrough over the signing of Hayden Hackney this summer, though they are reportedly “miles off” the valuation Boro have set for their standout midfielder. The £10 million figure that circulated in early reports drew swift and sharp pushback from those close to the finances of the game. Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to Manchester City, told Football Insider that such a figure is far too low for a player of Hackney’s calibre, pointing instead toward a realistic range of £20 million to £30 million given his quality and his status as a likely Premier League-level talent.

Everton Face a Steep Price for a Midfielder Built for the Premier League

Middlesbrough are holding firm at around £20 million for the 23-year-old despite him carrying only twelve months left on his contract, and Everton appear comfortable enough with that valuation to have already opened discussions with the player’s camp. David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that Hackney favours a move to Merseyside, with Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur also among the interested parties, though Manchester United are not expected to pursue him seriously. Named Championship Player of the Season, Hackney played a central role in Middlesbrough reaching the play-off final before their 1-0 defeat to Hull at Wembley.

Why Everton Must Act Decisively and Not Cheap Out?

Everton should be looking specifically at a defensive midfielder this summer, and Hackney has emerged as a strong candidate to fill the role vacated by Idrissa Gana Gueye at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Hackney has since jetted off on a brief holiday, with the next stage of his potential move expected to follow on his return, as Everton’s recruitment team pushes to complete business before the World Cup.

What Everton Should Do Next?

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 23: Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough acknowledges the fans following his team’s loss in the Sky Bet Championship Final match between Hull City and Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium on May 23, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

This is the moment where Everton either trust their recruitment instincts or flinch under financial pressure, and flinching here would be a costly mistake. A 23-year-old who won the Championship’s top individual award, clearly prefers Goodison over every other suitor, and who fits David Moyes’s system almost perfectly does not come around often. The Toffees had a rotten finish to the 2025-26 season, collecting just three points from their final seven matches, so the pressure on Moyes to rebuild quickly is enormous and very real.

Paying £20 million for a player with a market value estimated at nearly £28 million is not overspending. It is sensible business executed at the right moment. Rivals like Spurs and Palace remain in the picture, so any prolonged haggling over five million pounds risks handing those clubs the initiative entirely. Everton should settle the fee, tie up personal terms quickly, and give Moyes a midfielder who can bring energy and structure to a side that badly lacked both in the final stretch of the campaign. The deal makes complete sense for Everton, so they should simply get it done.