Hayden Hackney wants Everton move, £20m deal could be done in 'next few days'
Everton are now just days away from sealing the signing of highly sought-after Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
That is according to former Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that his former club will get a deal done for an initial £20million.
Hackney is being chased by a whole host of Premier League clubs after another strong season in the Championship, with Crystal Palace their biggest rivals at the moment.
Wyness is adamant that the Merseysiders are about to win the race for the 23-year-old, and feels that Hackney favours a move to Everton.
Hackney notched six goals and seven assists from the middle of the park in 2025-26, but was unable to help his boyhood club secure promotion back to the Premier League.
He now appears destined to depart the Riverside Stadium this summer as a result, and the Hill Dickinson Stadium could soon become his next home.
Everton offer to avoid Hayden Hackney auction
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that David Moyes and Co. are ready to up their offer for Hackney further, in a bid to try and avoid an auction for him.
The Toffees have already seen two bids knocked back by Middlesbrough, the second of which was understood to have reached the £15m mark.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness made it clear that he expects an initial £20m deal to provide "good value for everyone."
"I expect this one to get done, I really do. I think Everton will increase their offer," he said.
"There will be add-ons, and I think it'll get done at close to £20m in the end. With the age that Hackney is at and the talent he has, I think that would be good value for everyone.
"I'm sure Middlesbrough will get a sell-on, so everybody should be happy. It's where he wants to go. And I think while there is a lot of interest around him, I don't think it will turn into an auction.
"I think we'll expect some news on that. Hopefully, the next few days would be my hearing, the rumours I'm getting so far. That would be a good start to the summer to add somebody in that position."
£30m offer to instantly win Hackey race
Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson recently told Football Insider that an offer of £30m would likely see Everton instantly win the race for Hackney.
He labelled initial suggestions of a £10m deal as "laughable," but feels that Middlesbrough have already accepted that they will take anything between £20m and £30m.
Borson made it clear that Middlesbrough would only have sold for £10m if they had a "contract issue" eating away at them behind the scenes, but they are in a position to demand a premium for their star.
Everton know exactly what it will take for them to complete a deal, and they could even have it done by the start of next week.