Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney.
Football League World has exclusively disclosed that the Premier League club has launched a £20 million bid for Hackney, with a further £10 million in prospective add-ons. Hackney came through the North East club’s academy.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a transfer away from the Riverside all summer, turning down a £20 million move to Ipswich Town earlier in the window to stay with Boro.
However, it was discovered that Hackney had notified the club that he wanted to go to the Premier League if a top-tier offer arrived before the 7 p.m. deadline on September 1.
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa player Lee Hendrie believes that losing the midfielder would be a significant setback to Middlesbrough.
Lee Hendrie outlines Middlesbrough’s concern about Hayden Hackney exit links
“Hayden Hackney is a very, very good player,” Hendrie explained. “You understand what you’re getting with him. He has been a leader for a long time, despite his youthful age.
“He has a bit of everything in his game, including bite. He can move forward and score goals. You know, he’s a pretty calm footballer, and a very good one at that.
“That is why the bids are going to Boro. Wolves are one of the teams vying for his signature. He also has long-term potential, which is huge for football clubs these days.
“It’ll be a major blow if this happens because Boro’s squad has just had a new manager, Rob Edwards, and this appears to be the problem.
“They have players, they loan them out, and then they return, and it’s all about rebuilding, beginning again. For such a large football club, I believe this will be a crushing letdown.
Middlesbrough has a difficult Hayden Hackney decision to make
Wolves’ exorbitant offer for Hackney’s services has prompted Middlesbrough to make a critical decision that might have disastrous ramifications either way.
If Boro sell the 23-year-old, they will lose probably their greatest player, which would be a major setback in their push for the top six this season.
However, the price proposed by the Premier League club is large and would greatly assist Rob Edwards and his team in molding their squad in the coming years.
Either scenario has advantages and disadvantages for Boro, and it is difficult to anticipate which option will be more beneficial in the long run.
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