Manchester United’s midfield rebuild is turning into a game of musical chairs. And right now, they’re the ones left standing while another Premier League team grabs a seat.
Everton has agreed to pay Middlesbrough £25 million for Hayden Hackney, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. The deal isn’t fully signed yet, but The Telegraph reports negotiations are close to wrapping up, with a possible agreement later this week.
Hackney, 24, just won the EFL Championship Player of the Season after putting up 13 goals and assists from midfield. He was the captain at Middlesbrough, and his technical ability made him one of the most wanted players outside the Premier League. Michael Carrick, who coached Hackney at Boro, had been pushing his current club to make a move. That club? Not Manchester United. It’s Everton.
Why United let this one slip
United had Hackney on their list. He was supposed to be the third midfield signing, the cheaper piece behind a marquee name and a replacement for Manuel Ugarte. Reports in May said United planned to spend around £150 million on three midfielders this summer. That included roughly £80 million on a star, £40 million on a Ugarte replacement, and £20 million on a rotational guy.
Hackney fit that £20 million slot perfectly. He’s English, in his prime, and has chemistry with Carrick, who also happens to be a United legend. But United’s attention has been elsewhere. They’re still chasing Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, even though Tottenham is trying to outbid them. And they lost out on Elliot Anderson, their supposed dream target, after Manchester City paid a British transfer record fee to Nottingham Forest.
While United window-shopped, Middlesbrough got backed into a corner. Hackney is entering the final year of his contract. If they didn’t sell now, they risked losing him for nothing next summer. Everton swooped in at a price that looks reasonable for a player of his caliber.
What Hackney brings to Everton
Hackney isn’t flashy, but he’s effective. He can sit deep and dictate tempo or push forward and score. Under Carrick at Middlesbrough, he was the engine. He reads the game well, rarely gives the ball away, and has a knack for arriving late in the box.
For Everton, this feels like a smart piece of business. They’re getting a proven Championship performer who might translate well to the Premier League, especially under a manager who already trusts him. For United, it’s another name crossed off a list that keeps getting shorter.
Unless Ineos decides to hijack the deal at the last minute, they’ll have to find someone else to fill that third midfield spot. And the clock is ticking.
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