Exclusive: Ipswich Town plot new transfer bid for Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney | OneFootball

Hayden Hackney is back on Ipswich Town's radar after being snubbed by the midfielder earlier in the summer

Ipswich Town have re-ignited their interest in Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, sources have exclusively informed Football League World.

The Tractor Boys have had somewhat of an underwhelming start to the 2025-26 season, with back-to-back league draws away at Birmingham City and at home to Southampton in what was on paper a difficult beginning to life back in the Championship.

Town have also been knocked out of the EFL Cup at the first opportunity by League Two outfit Bromley, and it appears that that head coach Kieran McKenna has not been impressed with what he has seen so far, as he plots a fresh new move for what would be a major transfer, should it come off.

Ipswich Town plot fresh swoop for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney

FLW has been told that Ipswich are back in for Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney - despite the fact he turned the Suffolk side down earlier this summer.

The 23-year-old Boro academy graduate was the subject of heavy interest from Ipswich, and a fee was agreed between the two clubs worth a massive £20 million, but Town could not convince Hackney to make the move to Portman Road despite having face-to-face talks with the club, and he ultimately turned down the opportunity.

That is not deterring the ambitious Tractor Boys though, and despite recently re-adding Jens Cajuste on loan from Napoli to their squad, they are keen to strike a new deal with Middlesbrough for Hackney's services, and we can exclusively reveal that the two clubs are back in contact in regards to a fee for the England youth international.

Hackney has got on with the task at hand for Boro after snubbing Ipswich's advances, starting both Championship matches this season and scoring this past weekend in a 3-0 drubbing of Millwall at The Den.

Middlesbrough have already agreed a fee once for Hackney this summer, proving that every player does indeed have their price, but they will still be in no real rush to sell him for anything under the club's valuation - which may have increased as we edge closer to the September 1 transfer deadline.

Hackney still has just under two years remaining on the newest contract he signed back in 2023 with Middlesbrough, so Boro don't need to desperately cash in anytime soon, but it appears they're open to letting a deal happen.

Having already signed Abdoulaye Kante from Troyes and with Norwegian starlet Sverre Nypan imminently arriving from Man City on loan, Rob Edwards has added to his midfield options this summer, and if Ipswich are successful with their second pursuit of Hackney, then funds could be used to strengthen other positions for Boro before the transfer window closes.