How much Hayden Hackney could earn at Leeds United as Middlesbrough exit possible | OneFootball

FLW take a look at Capology's Leeds United and Middlesbrough wages and suggest what Hayden Hackney could be in line for should he move to Elland Road.

Hayden Hackney is one of the Championship's most coveted players, with Leeds United among the sides keen on the Middlesbrough midfielder.

Hackney has blossomed into one of Championship’s most complete midfield engines, with a mix of intensity and willingness to fight for possession, but also in his primary strengths via his clever progressive passes that drive Middlesbrough up the pitch.

He has grown in stature season on season, with Michael Carrick having got plenty out of Hackney's ability to dictate tempo, retain possession under pressure, and make forward thrusts to give Boro balance and purpose.

Beyond stats, Hackney has grown into a leader by example over the last few seasons. The 23-year-old's commitment, quality and consistency has often earned him the captain's armband in the absence of yet another Boro academy product in Dael Fry.

Hackney is a favourite among supporters and players alike - his performances and loyalty have both been inspirational on Teesside in recent years, where the talented midfielder has been linked with no shortage of moves elsewhere but has stayed put to help take his hometown club back to the Premier League under Kim Hellberg.

Hayden Hackney's Middlesbrough wages amid Leeds United interest

Portuguese giants FC Porto have had Hackney interest previously but serious interest from the Premier League has been a constant in recent seasons, even before Hellberg got the best out of him in the current system.

Aston Villa, Spurs, and Man United have all been credited with interest in Hackney, while our exclusive revealed that Crystai Palace have tracked the Middlesbroigh midfielder as well.

One of Boro's promotion rivals, Ipswich Town, made an attempt to bring in Hackney during the summer transfer window but both Ipswich and Wolves failed late in the window. Their loss has been Middlesbrough's gain, but there is no guarantee of promotion this season.

Should Boro fail to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2016/17, it is a near-certainty that Hackney will not remain at the Riverside Stadium. Leeds United are banking on that, with Daniel Farke's side keen on Hackney and hoping to sign him if that situation arose.

Hackney's Middlesbrough wages have been compared to other Championship midfielders previously, with the midfielder last penning an extension in June 2023 until the summer of 2027.

It means he is in the final year of his contract, which puts the club at risk. The amount of time since his last extension perhaps explains why there are only six players estimated as being paid less at Middlesbrough, too.

Per Capology's estimates, Hackney is paid £6,500 per week in the North East.

Clubs like Leeds could increase that number astronomically, given the financial might of the Premier League. For comparison, former Leeds favourite Luke Ayling is the highest paid contracted player at £30,000 weekly.

Leeds' estimates on Capology suggest only six players are paid less than that, which means Hackney would likely see a hike in his weekly salary. It's perhaps possible he would be around a similar level to players like James Justin and Joel Piroe on £35,000-£40,000 per week.

It appears that half the Premier League will be lining up to bring the 23-year-old in. Nottingham Forest had late January interest in Hackney, with Everton also linked to the Boro midfielder in the winter transfer window.

Boro have to gain promotion to avoid losing him, but their key player is likely to control that future to a large extent as well. Nonetheless, Hackney was powerless to prevent Middlesbrough from slipping to a 3-1 defeat away at Coventry City on Monday evening, where Haji Wright's hattrick inspired the Sky Blues back to the top of the table at Boro's expense.

Overall, though, it's fair to say that Hackney is the heartbeat of the side, with his influence growing this term, too.

For Leeds, if they survive and Boro fail to come up, they will need more reinforcements and improvements to their side. Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach have played the bulk of the games in their engine room, but Ilia Gruev, Sean Longstaff, and Ao Tanaka may well need to be replaced or upgraded.

Tanaka is the player most similar to Hackney and perhaps the 23-year-old could replace the 27-year-old this summer, especially given his wage demands may not be outrageous in comparison to some already established Premier League footballers.