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Everton Lining Up January Move For EFL Championship Star Amid Garner Exit Rumours

Hayden Hackney Everton Middlesbrough

Everton are believed to be preparing a move for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney ahead of the January transfer window.

Toffees boss David Moyes is determined to focus on strengthening the spine of his Everton side.

Injuries, inconsistency and contractual uncertainty have forced the club into the transfer market.

With Everton pushing for European football, reinforcements are clearly needed.

And one name is now firmly on their radar ahead of the upcoming January window.

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney has quietly established himself as one of the Championship’s standout performers this season.

The 23-year-old fits Everton’s recent signing profile of young, Premier League-ready players with the potential to improve significantly.

Boro will be reluctant to let Hackney leave mid-season, but Everton’s interest in the England under-21 international is only increasing.

Everton line up move for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney

Reports indicate that Everton are monitoring Hackney closely ahead of the January transfer window.

The midfielder has started each of Middlesbrough’s 21 league games this season.

He has so far contributed three goals and six assists as Boro push for automatic promotion under new boss Kim Hellberg.

Sitting second in the Championship, Middlesbrough are understandably reluctant to lose a key player midway through the campaign.

But Everton’s need is great, and they may be willing to pay a significant fee.

Hackney’s current contract runs until 2027, but previous bids around £20 million from Ipswich and Wolves were accepted in the summer.

Although the player opted to stay put, Everton can reasonably expect an offer in that ballpark might be enough to force Middlesbrough’s hand.

From an Everton perspective, the appeal is clear.

Their midfield options are looking increasingly thin, with Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye now away at AFCON.

Merlin Rohl remains sidelined after surgery, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has picked up a hamstring injury.

Moyes has been left juggling limited options, with a clear need to add depth and quality.

Hackney has therefore emerged as a priority target for the Toffees.

And despite Boro’s position, a top-half Premier League club coming in for him would make keeping Hackney difficult.

Possible James Garner Exit Could Force Everton To Act

Another driving force in Everton’s pursuit of Hackney is the uncertain future of James Garner.

The midfielder has been excellent, enjoying perhaps his best season in a blue shirt.

Garner has played every minute of Everton’s Premier League campaign, and has filled in across multiple positions.

He’s even had to cover at fullback, with Everton targeting Botafogo’s Vitinho in January to help add depth there as well.

But his contract situation is causing issues, with Garner’s current deal expiring at the end of the season.

Although Everton have a one-year extension option, interest from Manchester United and Newcastle is complicating matters.

Moyes has made it very clear that he wants Garner to stay, with contract talks ongoing.

But should he leave, Hackney would make for an ideal long-term replacement.

And even if Everton can tie Garner down to a new deal, the club’s lack of midfield depth makes signing Hackney a no-brainer.

Who is Hayden Hackney?

A product of Middlesbrough academy, Redcar-born Hayden Hackney has been a first-team regular on Teesside for several seasons.

Able to operate as both a six and and eight, he combined energy, intelligence and technical ability in midfield.

His work-rate and tireless pressing out of possession have been stand-out traits, while he has steadily been improving his goal contributions at the other end.

Boro boss Kim Hellberg recently described Hackney as a player who can “do everything” and praised his leadership qualities, even handing him the captain’s armband in recent matches.

That maturity, allied with his consistency, suggests he is ready to make the step up.

For Everton fans, Hackney represents a smart, cost-effective midfield option.

While not a big-name transfer from a top European club, he would make an astute signing that could quickly become central to David Moyes’ long-term plans.

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