Hayden Hackney: Man United will target Middlesbrough star on one condition
Hayden Hackney: Man United will target Middlesbrough star on one condition Manchester United’s plan for a midfield revamp could see Michael Carrick reunited with Middlesbrough maestro Hayden Hackney on one condition, according to a new report. Midfield Maestro Hackney has enjoyed a stellar campaign at the heart of Boro’s midfield this season, scoring five goals and assisting eight more as he has propelled his side to the cusp of promotion. United have been strongly linked with a move for the Redcar native after he first impressed at the Riverside Stadium under Carrick’s tutelage.
Tottenham Hotspur are also understood to be a suitor, while Everton and Leeds United are similarly impressed. But it is not his contributions in the final third which have caught the eye of top clubs in the Premier League; rather, it is the 23-year-old’s ability to dictate play, controlling both the ball and teammates with a potent pairing of skill and intelligence. There are few midfielders in England, at any level, who can run a match in the manner Hackney does, dropping deep to pick the ball up before using his outstanding passing range or deadly dribbling to progress it up the pitch.
Despite Coventry City having already secured the title and Swansea frontman Žan Vipotnik leading the league for goals, it was Hackney who was crowned the Championship’s Player of the Year at the EFL awards last week – a reflection of this unrivalled skillset. Middlesbrough are one point behind second-place Ipswich Town, though the Tractor Boys have a game in hand advantage, meaning Hackney’s side look destined for the playoffs. But if Boro fail to secure promotion, it is almost certain their maestro will still be playing Premier League football next season.
The Premier League awaits A report by talkSPORT reveals the Red Devils may target Hackney if Carrick is made permanent head coach at Old Trafford. The 44-year-old is considered the frontrunner after leading United to the brink of securing Champions League football, with sporting director Jason Wilcox understood to be thoroughly impressed by his effect on and off the pitch. No other side in the division has picked up more points since he replaced Ruben Amorim in January.
INEOS are intent on rebuilding the midfield this summer as Casemiro is set to depart and the dismal form of Manuel Ugarte may see him join the Brazilian through the exit door. The club’s primary targets are Premier League-proven operators, including Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, as they look to repeat last summer’s trick to fix the misfiring forward line. But a move for either midfielder will cost up to, if not in excess of, £100 million, while competition will prove fierce from their rivals for either player.