AdminThe 23-year-old Championship player of the season is wanted by a host of Premier League clubs. With only 12 months left on his contract, and the fact that Middlesbrough missed out on promotion to the top flight, he is expected to leave the Riverside Stadium and should represent good value for money for buying clubs.
The Athletic can reveal Hackney’s preference is to join Everton, and, as things stand, it puts them in pole position to secure the former England Under-21 international midfielder.
Negotiations between the clubs have yet to take place, but once Hackney has finalised his decision, that part will follow ahead of any deal being struck.
Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are also high among his suitors and retain a firm interest. Manchester United like Hackney, but he is lower on their list of targets and a move to Old Trafford is not anticipated at present.
Why Hackney is ready for the Premier League
The step up from the Championship to the Premier League is dauntingly steep, but Hackney has the tools to succeed at a higher level. Inevitably, for a player like Hackney, the chance of a regular starting place at Everton — which would not be as clear at Tottenham or Manchester United — is likely to be an important factor in any decision.
With quick feet and sharp decision-making, he has been Middlesbrough’s creative fulcrum, helping them progress through the thirds with his carrying and passing range.
While nominally a central midfielder, Hackney is comfortable operating at the top end of the pitch, with no Championship player (with 900-plus minutes played) averaging more than his 35.7 touches in the attacking third per 90 minutes this season.
That drifting tendency is shown below in his progressive pass zones, which span across the field from wide threaded balls to central passes punched through the lines.
Most importantly, Hackney is composed when harried, with the kind of press-resistance that should help him survive the Premier League’s higher intensity.
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