Idrissa Gueye plays Everton gamble as '£10m' Hayden Hackney transfer on the cards
Idrissa Gueye may push Everton to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney in the upcoming transfer window.
The Senegal international is set to be a free agent in the coming weeks, but has yet to sign a new deal at the Toffees.
According to The Telegraph, the Boro prospect could be available for around £10million in the summer, with his current contract entering its final year.
David Moyes will surely want Gueye to stay after playing a crucial role in the 2025-26 campaign, but the 36-year-old may have played his final game for the Merseyside outfit, with Hackney available as a replacement.
There's no doubt the veteran midfielder still has plenty in his tank to contribute in L3, but only time will tell how his situation will unfold.
Everton to give Idrissa Gueye ultimatum
It looks like Gueye is either holding out for more money or a longer contract as the Toffees look to tie him down.
The Blues can’t wait forever for the Senegalese veteran to make a decision and his gamble could potentially backfire.
Football Insider understands that Hackney is a target at Hill Dickinson Stadium and his departure feels inevitable after Boro failed to win promotion to the Premier League.
It would make sense for the Merseyside outfit to begin work on signing the 23-year-old immediately, given the interest from other Premier League teams.
The English defensive-midfielder is arguably available for a bargain fee and Moyes should push The Friedkin Group to get a deal over the line soon.
David Moyes faces dilemma at Hill Dickinson Stadium
At one stage, it looked like Everton would finish in a European spot in the Premier League table, but they had a disappointing end to the season.
The Toffees failed to win any of their last seven league matches and finished 13th with 49 points.
Fans in L3 have pointed fingers at Moyes for the lack of consistency at the Blues, but TFG have to take the blame after failing to adequately back him over the last two transfer windows.
If the American owners continue to leave the Scottish manager short of options at Hill Dickinson Stadium, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him walk away to avoid being a scapegoat among supporters.