Why Ipswich Town want to sign Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney - There are 3 obvious reasons | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are interested in Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney, and he would be a shrewd signing for Kieran McKenna's side.

Ipswich Town are planning for another promotion push under Kieran McKenna, with changes having been made to the squad since relegation.

Arguably, the biggest problem for the Tractor Boys has been central midfield, as Jens Cajuste and Kalvin Phillips have returned to Napoli and Man City respectively, after loan spells at Portman Road.

Elsewhere, influential skipper Sam Morsy is set for a switch to the Middle East, so whilst Azor Matusiwa has joined from Rennes in a transfer that looks like a real coup, it’s clear that further additions are required in the middle of the park.

So, Ipswich are on the lookout for midfielders, and it was revealed that Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney is a target for the Suffolk outfit.

With Hackney having attracted attention from several Premier League clubs, including Brentford, Everton and West Ham, this would be a statement signing for the club, and here we outline three key reasons why Ipswich will be pushing to bring the England U21 international in ahead of the new season…

He is proven in the Championship

Firstly, Hackney will be a major help in achieving Ipswich’s short-term objectives - returning to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The 23-year-old has proven himself to be a top player at this level, impressing with his all-round game at Middlesbrough.

Hackney is comfortable in possession, he can drive forward, and he has the energy to get around the pitch to win the ball back. Simply put, he is a complete player at this level, and most observers would agree he is one of the standout midfielders in the division.

His experience in the Championship means there are no doubts about Hackney settling in, and his skillset - which has been honed under a similar possession-based head coach in Michael Carrick - would translate well to McKenna's style of play, so he could be thrown into the XI straight away and improve the team.

He is capable of handling the step-up to the Premier League

As well as that, Hackney is a player who could stay at Ipswich for the long-term.

The immediate aim is to win promotion for Ipswich, and then they will be determined to make a better fist of things in the top-flight, so they won’t want to overhaul the squad again.

In Hackney, they would have someone who is capable of handling the increase in quality, and he would be keen to prove himself at the highest level.

Hackney has been tracked by Premier League clubs, and Portuguese giants Porto, so he is highly regarded in the game, and he could be integral to Ipswich in the years to come.

The volume of interest in Hackney's signature across recent times is telling, and his acquisition would bring far more upside than just helping to achieve promotion.

He could be sold for a profit down the line

Obviously, the only concern for fans about a new signing is what they can contribute on the pitch, but those making the decisions at Portman Road have to look beyond that in the modern game.

And, even though it’s not disclosed what sort of fee Ipswich would have to pay for Hackney, he is a player that could see his value rise considerably in the future.

If he can hit his peak with Ipswich, show his quality in the Premier League, and potentially get in the reckoning for a senior England cap, he could be sold on for a big profit, which fits Ipswich’s transfer strategy.