Everton and Crystal Palace ‘working on’ Hayden Hackney swoop after £20m agreement deal
Everton and Crystal Palace are reportedly preparing to make a late push to sign highly rated Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, following the collapse of his proposed move to Ipswich Town.
The 23-year-old had been on the verge of sealing a £20 million switch to newly promoted Ipswich earlier this summer, but negotiations broke down after the two parties failed to reach an agreement on personal terms, despite Middlesbrough accepting the fee. That breakdown has now opened the door for Premier League suitors to step in, with both Everton and Crystal Palace circling as the transfer window edges closer to its conclusion.
The information comes via respected talent-spotter Mick Brown – a former chief scout at Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers – who revealed to Football Insider that Hackney is firmly on the radar of several top-flight clubs and would welcome the chance to test himself in the Premier League.
Everton and Palace eye a late midfield reinforcement
According to Brown, David Moyes’ Everton are keeping close tabs on Hackney’s situation and could attempt to hijack the deal after missing out on several of their midfield targets earlier in the summer. The Toffees have made no secret of their desire to add more depth and quality in the middle of the park, and Hackney – who impressed for Michael Carrick’s Boro side in the Championship – is seen as a player with the technical ability and energy to adapt quickly to top-flight football.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are also seriously considering an approach, especially as uncertainty grows over the future of their talisman Eberechi Eze. Tottenham Hotspur are currently leading the race to land Eze in a big-money transfer, with Arsenal also monitoring developments. Should Palace cash in on their star man, Roy Hodgson’s side will have the funds to reinvest, and Hackney is viewed as a ready-made replacement capable of stepping into the Premier League spotlight.
Brown stressed that both Palace and Everton have been following Hackney’s development closely over the last 12 months, with Palace scouts watching him extensively during Boro’s campaign at the Riverside Stadium.
> “Both Palace and Everton have been working on signing him,” Brown explained. “He’s exactly the type of player those clubs want to bring in – young, energetic, and with room to grow. He turned down Ipswich because it wasn’t quite the right fit, but he could be tempted by the opportunity of playing Premier League football. The question now is whether either club pushes ahead before the window closes.”
Hackney still developing but seen as a smart gamble
Though Hackney is not yet considered the “finished article,” Brown insists that he represents a calculated risk worth taking for sides like Everton and Palace. The midfielder’s passing range, work rate, and composure on the ball have earned him plaudits, and at just 23, he still has plenty of time to refine his game at the highest level.
For Everton, the pursuit comes amid wider efforts to reshape their squad under Moyes, while Palace could use the injection of fresh legs in midfield should they lose a creative outlet like Eze.
Aston Villa shut door on John McGinn speculation
In addition to their Hackney pursuit, Everton have also been linked with a surprise move for Aston Villa captain John McGinn. However, sources close to the Midlands club have poured cold water on any potential deal. Despite Villa’s need to balance the books by offloading players, they have no intention of selling their skipper, who remains a pivotal figure under Unai Emery.
Reports had suggested Newcastle United even held exploratory talks about McGinn earlier this month, but Villa have made it clear he will not be leaving Villa Park this summer.
What happens next?
With just weeks left until the transfer window shuts, the race for Hackney’s signature is expected to intensify. Everton and Crystal Palace are both weighing up formal bids, while Middlesbrough are bracing themselves for late offers after already seeing one big deal collapse.
Hackney’s next move could hinge on whether Palace cash in on Eze and how aggressively Everton push to strengthen their midfield options. Either way, the Boro star looks set to be at the heart of one of the final transfer battles of the summer.