Hackney Preference Gives Everton Encouragement
Everton’s summer rebuild may yet find its most intriguing early shape in midfield. As reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, the club are in talks with Middlesbrough over a potential deal for Hayden Hackney, a player whose next move has quietly become one of the more interesting Premier League subplots of the window.
Hackney has 12 months left on his Middlesbrough contract, which gives Everton opportunity, but not control. Middlesbrough are prepared to let him enter the final year of his deal unless a suitable offer lands, and that matters. This is not a distressed sale. This is a club protecting the value of one of its academy graduates.
The encouraging detail for Everton is that Hackney’s preference is understood to be a move to Goodison Park. Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Crystal Palace have all been linked, yet Everton appear to have emotional and sporting traction. For a club seeking to look forward after years of firefighting, that is no small thing.
Moyes Wants More Technical Control
David Moyes’ interest makes sense. Everton have too often been a team built around resistance rather than rhythm, energy rather than craft. Hackney offers something different. He is a progressive passer, comfortable carrying the ball, and capable of arriving in advanced areas with intent.
That is reflected in the numbers. Hackney made 41 appearances in all competitions for Middlesbrough last season, scoring six goals and providing eight assists. Across his Boro career, he has recorded 16 goals and 17 assists in 154 appearances.
Midfield Balance Remains Everton Concern
Still, Hackney would not solve everything. He is not a direct Idrissa Gueye replacement. If Gueye leaves when his contract expires this month, Everton will still need a more defensive, physical midfield presence.
The likely partnership with James Garner is appealing in possession, but it raises questions without the ball. Hackney is willing and combative, yet he is at his best when allowed to roam. Garner, or another partner, would need to provide balance, protection and deeper control.
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There is also uncertainty around Tim Iroegbunam, who has attracted interest from elsewhere. Everton have also considered Southampton’s Shea Charles, which suggests this is part of a wider midfield reshaping rather than a single isolated pursuit.
Everton Move Could Suit Hackney’s Growth
Hackney’s development has been steady rather than sudden. A Middlesbrough academy graduate, he made his senior debut in January 2021, spent time on loan at Scunthorpe United, then became a fixture after Michael Carrick’s appointment in October 2022.
At 23, he is neither a punt nor a finished article. He is a player ready for a platform. Everton, under Moyes, could offer exactly that, responsibility without the impossible glare of a Champions League club.
For Everton supporters, this is the kind of deal that feels sensible, ambitious and grounded. Hackney would bring technical courage to a midfield that needs it. The next step is whether Everton can turn preference into agreement.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From an Everton supporter’s perspective, this report feels genuinely encouraging. Not because Hayden Hackney is a superstar, and not because one signing changes the direction of a club overnight, but because it suggests Everton are thinking properly about profile, age and purpose.
For too long, the midfield has felt like a place where Everton have patched problems rather than built solutions. Hackney would be different. He is young enough to improve, experienced enough to contribute, and technically interesting enough to alter the way Everton move the ball through the pitch.
The attacking third touches statistic is particularly eye catching. Everton have lacked midfielders who naturally break lines and occupy advanced spaces. Hackney appears to enjoy that responsibility. That could matter hugely for a team that has often asked its forwards to survive on scraps.
There is caution, of course. If Gueye goes, Hackney alone will not replace his defensive intelligence or physical coverage. Everton would still need steel, pace and protection in that zone. But as part of a broader midfield plan, this makes sense.
The biggest positive is his reported preference. Everton need players who want the challenge, not players treating the club as a fallback. Hackney choosing Everton would feel like a small but meaningful sign that the club’s direction is starting to look credible again.
