Man Utd could face Hayden Hackney blow as Fulham and Leeds United update emerges | OneFootball

Fresh interest is emerging in Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney is continuing to emerge as a hot property ahead of this summer's transfer window.

The Boro man has been one of the standout stars in the Championship and has been a key reason to why the Teesside outfit have a strong chance of sealing promotion back to the big time.

Hackney’s presence in the Boro engine room and ability to influence games week in, week out, has left him a top-flight player in waiting, with more Premier League big-hitters registering an interest in securing his services in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The England youth international has flirted with the idea of leaving Middlesbrough in the past, coming close to joining Ipswich Town last summer, but decided to remain loyal to his boyhood club.

But Boro will have a fight on their hands to retain Hackney as Premier League heavyweights continue to test their resolve, and there may be one outcome that would see them part ways with one of their own.

Leeds United and Fulham enter battle for Hayden Hackney

As per a report from Football Insider, journalist Pete O’Rourke has confirmed that Leeds United and Fulham are the latest Premier League teams to join the race to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

After turning down the opportunity to join Ipswich Town last summer, top-flight giants Manchester United have been linked with luring him to Old Trafford this week, but the Red Devils could have a fight on their hands over this latest update.

And it appears that the only way Middlesbrough will be able to fend off the interest is by getting back to the big time themselves.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, O’Rourke said: “Hayden Hackney’s future is going to be the subject of intense speculation again this summer.

“It was last summer, when he came very close to leaving Middlesbrough before he eventually turned down a move to Ipswich.

“There were a number of clubs looking at him, but Middlesbrough did really well to keep hold of him, and they’ve been really rewarded because Hackney’s been the driving force behind their promotion bid to the Premier League.

“Middlesbrough won’t want to lose Hackney. If they were to win promotion to the Premier League, then they would be quite hopeful that they could keep hold of the England Under-21 midfielder.

“If they don’t win promotion to the Premier League, it’s going to be a real hard battle to keep hold of him. You’ll have Leeds, a lot of other Premier League clubs, (such as) Everton, like Hayden Hackney.

“There’s even been talk that Manchester United could be interested…Fulham are admirers of the player as well.”

Middlesbrough have one job to secure Hayden Hackney’s future

As expected, the speculation is continuing to ramp up regarding Hayden Hackney, and there’s only a matter of time before Middlesbrough relent and sanction his exit from the Riverside Stadium.

The deal will only accelerate if Middlesbrough remain a Championship side next season, so they have to ensure they get over the line and get back to the top-flight in order to have the best possible chance of keeping hold of him.

While you would back Hackney to stay loyal and represent his club in the Premier League, opportunities to play for the likes of Manchester United may never come around again, so it will be intriguing to see what his decision will be in the near future.

But Boro have to give him that choice by being a Premier League team themselves, as if they remain in the second-tier, an exit looks inevitable.

It’s vital Middlesbrough achieve their quest of gaining promotion, as they potentially could still feel the impact of Hackney in their midfield for years to come by achieving this feat.