Hayden Hackney truth emerges as Everton and Crystal Palace chase deal | OneFootball

Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney has attracted interest from Premier League duo Everton and Crystal Palace

Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney remains highly sought after in the summer transfer window after winning last term's Championship player of the season award.

The all-action midfielder notched five goals and seven assists for Boro in the second tier last campaign, but it wasn't enough to help them seal promotion to the Premier League.

Kim Hellberg's side were instead beaten by Hull City at Wembley Stadium after being handed a play-off final spot following Southampton's expulsion.

Middlesbrough are now more susceptible to losing Hackney, who deserves a move to the Premier League, having excelled in the Championship.

Everton and Crystal Palace know where they stand in Hayden Hackney transfer race

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Hackney didn't feature from 14 March until making a 20-minute appearance in the play-off final, which was a huge contributing factor in Boro's poor end-of-season form.

Hellberg's side will have to get used to life without the 23-year-old, though, if he leaves the Riverside Stadium this summer, amid the high-profile interest in his services.

According to The Athletic, talks between Middlesbrough and Everton over Hackney have continued, but no significant progress has been made yet.

Boro are said to value Hackney at more than the £16million deal they agreed with Ipswich Town last summer, before the transfer collapsed.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are also interested in the midfielder, but the homegrown Middlesbrough talent favours a move to Merseyside.

The report adds that Boro are willing to let Hackney's contract expire, should a deal for his services not materialise this summer, and his current contract runs out in 2027.

Everton appeared capable of securing European football last season, but poor form at the end of the campaign meant that they eventually finished just 13th in the Premier League.

David Moyes knows that adding more depth and quality to his ranks will give the Toffees a greater chance of earning qualification to either the Europa League or Conference League next term.

Meanwhile, Palace will be playing in the Europa League next season, thanks to last term's Conference League triumph, and new boss Pierre Sage needs a squad that can sustain a European campaign as well as finishing as high in the Premier League as possible.

Hayden Hackney should push for Middlesbrough exit

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Hackney is a Middlesbrough academy graduate who has a strong affinity with the North East outfit, but this summer, he has to consider what is best for his career.

The 23-year-old was in top form before suffering his groin injury, notching an assist in a 3-1 win over Birmingham City before scoring in a 4-0 triumph against Queens Park Rangers.

He has proven that he is too good for the Championship and deserves to be playing Premier League football next season, amid interest from Everton and Palace.

Moving to the Toffees could prove to be a particularly fruitful transfer for Hackney, as Moyes' side were often short on numbers in midfield last term, with James Garner having to be deployed at right back.

Furthermore, the Everton boss has a strong record of developing players, with former England star Leighton Baines among those he has nurtured in his career.