Everything Michael Carrick has said about Hayden Hackney as Middlesbrough plan to accept offers for Man United target
Manchester United appear set to be part of a whole host of clubs who will battle it out to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer.
The England U21 international has been a key player for Kim Hellberg’s side once again this term, as they chase a return to the Premier League.
Middlesbrough have successfully fought off interest in their captain in several of the recent transfer windows, but Football Insider revealed on Saturday that they plan to accept offers for him this summer if they fail to get over the line and win promotion.
Hackney is already attracting interest from several top-flight outfits at the moment, as it looks increasingly likely that he will be playing at the top level next term, whether that is with or without Middlesbrough.
Michael Carrick’s relationship with Hayden Hackney to provide crucial edge
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness recently told Football Insider that Michael Carrick is the favourite to be named as Manchester United’s next permanent manager, and that can only help when it comes to their pursuit of Hackney.
The interim boss previously took charge of the talented youngster during his time at the helm at the Riverside Stadium, and the pair clearly share a strong relationship with each other.
United’s interest is being rivalled by the likes of Everton and Leeds United at the moment, but if Carrick were to be appointed on a full-time basis, it would surely hand them a crucial edge.
Carrick previously said that he “couldn’t ask for much more from Hayden” during his time in charge of Middlesbrough, according to Sports Illustrated, as he also suggested that the youngster is “grounded, humble, down to earth and loves to learn.”
The praise for Hackney doesn’t stop there, as the United interim also labelled him as a “credit to the club” back in March 2024, while also calling him “exemplary.”
Such lavish praise is likely to have stuck with Hackney in recent seasons, and as a result, he would surely jump at the chance to work under Carrick once again.
How much would Man United need to pay for Hackney?
Hackney rejected a move to join Ipswich during the final stages of the deal last summer, but not before Middlesbrough had accepted a bid worth £20million from the Suffolk outfit.
That looks set to be the general benchmark figure once again this time around, but Hackney’s performances have likely given Boro the licence to up their asking price a little further.
Four goals and five assists from central midfield have helped cement the starlet’s place as one of the Championship’s best players, and as a result, it would be no surprise to see his club hold out for a fee around the £25m mark.
It has already become clear that Middlesbrough will only sell Hackney for a deal that provides a significant benefit for them financially, and with that in mind, any move for him will not come cheaply this summer.