Rob Edwards drops Hayden Hackney update as Ipswich Town chase Middlesbrough deal | OneFootball

The midfielder won't be short of options this summer if he does try to force his way out of Teesside.

Rob Edwards has reinforced that Hayden Hackney is "fully committed" to Middlesbrough amid links with Ipswich Town and a number of Premier League clubs.

This summer has already started pretty well for Boro's 23-year-old midfielder. He picked up a winner's medal in the under-21 European Championships with England.

Despite not playing a starring role, with first-class talents like Elliot Anderson and Harvey Elliott ahead of him in the pecking order, the time that he spent with the youth side in Slovakia earned him a slightly later return to pre-season preparations than many of his teammates.

Rob Edwards makes Hayden Hackney, Middlesbrough future claim

Hackney is now back in the northeast, and was welcomed by a new manager. Edwards used the midfielder for half of the club's first pre-season match on Saturday versus Mansfield Town.

He impressed the Welshman, alongside Aidan Morris, in his first outing since the former Luton Town boss was appointed, and it's those high levels that have garnered such attention.

Hackney has been linked with a wide range of teams in the top flight of English football throughout this transfer window, as well as recently relegated Ipswich Town.

FLW's sister publication, GiveMeSport, has reported that the England under-21 international will be allowed to leave the Riverside Stadium this summer. £20 million was the price that The Sun stated Boro had set for the midfielder earlier this summer.

Edwards has stated that he isn't concerned by these sorts of stories linking the 23-year-old, who has just shy of two years left on his deal, with a move away from Teesside.

"H, as far as I'm concerned and aware at the moment, he's here and that's why he's playing and out on the pitch," said the new Boro boss, via the Northern Echo.

"He's fully committed. He loves this football club and we love him. He's a really good player, I thought him and Aidan showed that in the first half."

Middlesbrough could face consistent transfer threats all window long

It could be a long first summer in charge at the Riverside for the 42-year-old. As well as high-level interest in Hackney, Boro may also need to fend off similar clubs who are looking at some of their other rising talents.

Crystal Palace, in particular, have been linked with a trio of the club's finest assets. As well as potentially plotting a double move for Hackney and Rav van den Berg, according to The Sun, the Eagles are also said to be interested in Finn Azaz.

The Irishman has confirmed that he's happy where he is, but the lure of Premier League football could prove too much for any of the three Boro players, if not all. Losing just one of them would provide Edwards and the rest of the club's staff with a major challenge to find a replacement for them ASAP.