Everton in advanced talks with Middlesbrough to sign Hayden Hackney | OneFootball

Everton are closing in on a move for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, according to the Telegraph.

Hackney has also been linked with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, but the Toffees are now expected to sign him.

Everton will be paying around £25 million for the 23-year-old after Middlesbrough knocked back at least three bids for him.

Hackney wants to join the Merseyside club, holding a preference for the move despite strong interest from Crystal Palace.

The Championship Player of the Season notched five goals and eight league assists in 38 games last term and will be desperate to prove himself in the Premier League.

The Friedkin Group have to back manager David Moyes this summer if Everton are to clinch European football at the end of next season.

Agreeing to pay £25m for a player in the final year of his contract is a huge statement of intent by the club.

The fans will hope it is a taste of things to come this summer as their club could do with quality additions after their underwhelming finish to last season.

They recently missed out on Fulham attacker Harry Wilson as they did not want to match his wage demands.

They have also been linked with FC Midtjylland forward Franculino Dju, who bagged 22 goals last term. More targets will emerge in the coming weeks.