Hayden Hackney makes big Middlesbrough exit decision - Wolves, West Ham & Man Utd should act | OneFootball

Hayden Hackney is open to leaving Middlesbrough for the Premier League, and we look at three clubs who should target the midfielder.

Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney faces an uncertain future at the club as we enter the final days of the summer transfer window, having informed Boro he'd like to leave if a Premier League offer arrives.

The 23-year-old came through the ranks at the Riverside Stadium, and he has gone on to make over 110 appearances for his boyhood club.

Even though there has been plenty of speculation surrounding Hackney’s future in recent years, he has remained at Boro, but with the England youth international having entered the final two years of his contract, it could be the right time to sell.

Boro have already accepted an offer for Hackney in this window, but the player turned down the chance to join Ipswich Town in what would have been a £20m transfer.

However, journalist Pete O'Rourke has claimed that Hackney is keen on leaving Boro if a Premier League offer arrives before the deadline, even if the Teesside outfit would struggle to replace him at this stage of the window.

With that in mind, we look at THREE top-flight clubs who should be trying to capitalise on Hackney’s stance by securing a deal before 7pm on Monday…

West Ham United

The Hammers have been linked with Hackney, and it’s easy to see why.

They are desperately lacking legs and energy in the middle of the park, and the Boro man would provide that.

Graham Potter has some young academy players who are highly-rated, but he seems reluctant to give them a chance.

So, he needs to freshen up an ageing squad with some youthful players, and Hackney again fits the bill.

You could make a strong case to say he would walk straight into the XI and improve West Ham, so it would be a sensible investment from the Londoners, who simply must strengthen the middle of the park in the coming days, even with Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa set to join.

The Redcar-born midfielder could be an ideal long-term replacement for James Ward-Prowse as that progressive, ball-carrying central midfielder, as the former Southampton man is now 30 and heading for 31 in November.

Wolves

Another club that has midfield issues is Wolves, and boss Vitor Pereira has made it clear that he wants to bring in someone to address that before the deadline.

Joao Gomes and Andre are the first-choice pairing, with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Marshall Munetsi other options too.

However, with Tommy Doyle and Boubacar Traore having left on loan, there is a real lack of depth in the middle of the park at Molineux.

Yet, unlike West Ham, Hackney may have to be patient for opportunities there, as it’s hard to see him getting in ahead of the Brazilian duo, although he would no doubt back himself to make an impact over the course of the season.

Manchester United

It might seem a huge step to join Man Utd, but the reality is they are another club who are in need of strengthening the midfield right now.

Casemiro is coming towards the end of his career, Bruno Fernandes sometimes lacks the discipline to play in a two, Manuel Ugarte hasn’t impressed, and Kobbie Mainoo seems out of favour.

Of course, that’s not to say Hackney is better than those individuals, or that he would play week in, week out at Old Trafford, but he is ideally suited to Ruben Amorim’s system, as he knows the midfield role and can do both sides of the game.

Hackney has been on Manchester United's radar for some time now, and the Red Devils were even reported to have been considering hijacking Ipswich Town's move for him at the beginning of August, potentially showing that there is still very much a live interest in acquiring his services at Old Trafford.

Given his age and potential, the Middlesbrough star could be a long-term signing for the Red Devils, and he could quickly improve when surrounded by better players.