Hayden Hackney: Man United will target Middlesbrough star on one condition | OneFootball

Manchester United’s plan for a midfield revamp could see Michael Carrick reunited with Middlesbrough maestro Hayden Hackney on one condition, according to a new report.

Midfield Maestro

Hackney has enjoyed a stellar campaign at the heart of Boro’s midfield this season, scoring five goals and assisting eight more as he has propelled his side to the cusp of promotion.

United have been strongly linked with a move for the Redcar native after he first impressed at the Riverside Stadium under Carrick’s tutelage. Tottenham Hotspur are also understood to be a suitor, while Everton and Leeds United are similarly impressed.

But it is not his contributions in the final third which have caught the eye of top clubs in the Premier League; rather, it is the 23-year-old’s ability to dictate play, controlling both the ball and teammates with a potent pairing of skill and intelligence. There are few midfielders in England, at any level, who can run a match in the manner Hackney does, dropping deep to pick the ball up before using his outstanding passing range or deadly dribbling to progress it up the pitch.

Despite Coventry City having already secured the title and Swansea frontman Žan Vipotnik leading the league for goals, it was Hackney who was crowned the Championship’s Player of the Year at the EFL awards last week – a reflection of this unrivalled skillset.

Middlesbrough are one point behind second-place Ipswich Town, though the Tractor Boys have a game in hand advantage, meaning Hackney’s side look destined for the playoffs. But if Boro fail to secure promotion, it is almost certain their maestro will still be playing Premier League football next season.

The Premier League awaits

A report by talkSPORT reveals the Red Devils may target Hackney if Carrick is made permanent head coach at Old Trafford.

The 44-year-old is considered the frontrunner after leading United to the brink of securing Champions League football, with sporting director Jason Wilcox understood to be thoroughly impressed by his effect on and off the pitch. No other side in the division has picked up more points since he replaced Ruben Amorim in January.

INEOS are intent on rebuilding the midfield this summer as Casemiro is set to depart and the dismal form of Manuel Ugarte may see him join the Brazilian through the exit door.

The club’s primary targets are Premier League-proven operators, including Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, as they look to repeat last summer’s trick to fix the misfiring forward line. But a move for either midfielder will cost up to, if not in excess of, £100 million, while competition will prove fierce from their rivals for either player.

This could see a cheaper alternative, such as Hackney, quickly rise up the ranks as an option off the back of an award-winning season in English football, particularly if Carrick is appointed full-time and pushes for a reunion with his former pupil.

“Hayden Hackney will be a man in demand if Middlesbrough miss out on promotion to the Premier League,” talkSPORT claims. “His stellar form for his boyhood club has put Nottingham Forest, Everton, West Ham and newly-promoted Coventry on high alert. The 23-year-old could even be a potential option for Manchester United, should Michael Carrick be named permanent manager.”

A price tag in the region of £30m is understood to be Middlesbrough’s asking price, though promotion would likely drive this up even further as the North Yorkshire could would have more incentive not to lose their best player.

Final Thoughts

One of the main concerns with signing players from abroad is the adjustment to the frantic nature of Premier League football. But the Championship is often played at a similar speed, albeit with a significant drop in quality.

The ability to stand out as a deep-lying playmaker in the midst of a league dominated by pace and power, to such an extent you are crowned the best player in it, is a testament to the quality Hackney possesses – and an illustration of what he could provide at Old Trafford at a fraction of the price of other midfielders in England.

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social