Liverpool are interested in signing young Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
Hackney has had a breakout year for Boro in the Championship, playing 36 times as Michael Carrick’s team lost in the play-off semi-final.
And according to 90min, the 20-year-old’s performances have not gone unnoticed. They claim that Hackney’s impressive displays have very much put him on the radar of several Premier League sides.
One of those is said to be Liverpool, who have reportedly ‘checked on’ the midfielder of late. So too, it’s claimed, have Newcastle United, Leicester City and Arsenal.
Clearly, Boro don’t want to lose Hackney, who came through their academy. As a result, they handed him a new long-term contract in December and could reportedly be set to hand him another following his rapid progress. But should ‘reasonable’ offers come in for Hackney, it’s claimed that Middlesbrough aren’t in a financial position to reject them.
Hackney attracting Premier League interest
We’ll be honest, we don’t know all that much about Hayden Hackney. But just like up-and-coming Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott, he looks like a youngster from the second division worthy of our attention.
Having spent a year on-loan at Scunthorpe United in League Two last season, he’s already put in the hard yards. With Boro failing to win promotion to the Premier League this season, Hackney may now want to push on.
Obviously, he wouldn’t be looked at as a potential starter for Liverpool. No way. But in a summer where a wide restructuring of the squad is set to take place, he could have some part in that.
On first impressions, Hackney looks like an elegant, passing midfielder somewhat in the Curtis Jones mould.
Put it this way, you can tell that his manager is Michael Carrick. Hackney looks to be well on the way to perfecting the kind of midfield passing role Carrick became well-known for.
At just twenty, he has room to grow physically and will develop immeasurably through playing time.
With the best will in the world though, that isn’t going to happen at Liverpool right now. Hackney looks a fine player in the making, but not what the Reds should be targeting this summer.
So, unless it’s with the intention of loaning him back to Boro, we can’t see this one happening.