Forget Hayden Hackney: Ipswich Town can save millions and win promotion with Newcastle United transfer | OneFootball

Ipswich Town's links with Lewis Miley should be explored, rather than paying a Championship record fee for Hayden Hackney

Ipswich Town have ramped up their chase for a new progressive central midfielder over the past week, and have been linked with many fresh (and old) faces to improve the side in the middle of the park.

That old face relates to Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, who Ipswich almost managed to sign for what would have been a record fee for an arrival in the second tier. Their £20 million bid was accepted by Boro, but the 23-year-old turned down the chance to join Kieran McKenna's side.

However, according to an exclusive report by Football League World, Ipswich are back in once more for Hackney, as they look to persuade him to make the switch to Portman Road.

The 23-year-old Boro man isn't the only player linked with the Tractor Boys, though, as the Daily Mail revealed that Bournemouth duo Lewis Cook and Philip Billing, alongside Newcastle United starlet Lewis Miley, are on McKenna's radar.

Those three options would be loan deals, and it's clear that, especially if Miley becomes available between now and the end of the window, Ipswich should save their money and capitalise on the services of a bright young star who has already played at the top level of the European game as a teenager.

Ipswich Town can save a hefty fee by turning to Lewis Miley over Hayden Hackney

Ipswich's previous ventures into signing Hackney from Middlesbrough resulted in a whopping £20 million fee being accepted for the 23-year-old.

The current record fee paid by a Championship club is £15.4 million, following Burnley's obligation to buy Mike Tresor from Genk despite their relegation from the Premier League. Enzo Le Fee cost Sunderland a reported £19.3 million, but that deal was made permanent following the Black Cats' promotion to the top flight.

Nevertheless, Hackney was set to smash that record before talks between player and club broke down, and in the couple of weeks since that happened, Boro's stance on a sale may have changed, and they may demand even more if they were to let their star midfielder leave.

Rob Edwards has already had to bid farewell to Rav van den Berg recently, and may be a little more wary of letting another of his bright talents depart.

If Ipswich were to switch their focus to Miley, they'd be looking to bring him in on loan for the season. There may be a small fee attached to the deal, as Eddie Howe still values the 19-year-old as a valuable squad player, even with the recent acquisition of Jacob Ramsey.

But even then, it wouldn't compare to how much they'd have to part ways with if they pursued a deal for Hackney.

There's little doubt that Hackney was one of, if not the, the best defensive midfielder in the division last season.

He was incredibly well-rounded, chipping in with goals whilst also being very solid at the back, and his inclusion in the Ipswich squad would improve them tenfold.

However, whilst Miley may be younger and unproven in a league as physical as the Championship, the 19-year-old already has over 30 Premier League appearances and three UEFA Champions League bows at one of the most exciting teams in England in Newcastle.

His quality sees him be a serviceable backup to the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, two of the best midfielders in England, and if he were given the opportunity to play regularly in the Championship, there are few doubts about him becoming one of the better on-ball players in the division.

Obviously, he would then have to return to St James' Park at the end of the season, whereas Hackney would be a regular player for McKenna from next season and beyond, but for the short-term focus on promotion, there isn't much to separate the two on the field.

However, there is a lot to separate them in terms of price tag. If Ipswich wants to bolster elsewhere between now and September 1st, taking Miley on loan may be a better option than breaking records to bring in Hackney.