Here’s why Middlesbrough won’t be selling Hayden Hackney to Leeds in summer transfer window
Hayden Hackney has been one of Middlesbrough’s key players as they push for automatic promotion from the Championship this season.
Hackney‘s fine form over the last few years for Middlesbrough has continued into this campaign as they battle to return to the Premier League.
The 23-year-old midfielder has registered five goals and assists each in 33 appearances across competitions, with Kim Hellberg‘s side sitting top of the Championship right now.
Hackney has been heavily linked with a move to the top-flight in the last few transfer windows, with the likes of Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Wolves all touted to move for his services.
He has remained with his boyhood club for now, however, and will surely be staying on past this summer as Leeds line up an approach ahead of next season.
Hayden Hackney will stay at Boro as they are set to be promoted
West Ham were also linked with Hackney in January, while Forest saw a move rebuffed by Boro as they had no plans to let him leave midway through the season.
Journalist Alan Nixon has now revealed, via Patreon, that Leeds are plotting a move for Hackney, and have listed him as a “priority” signing if they do stay in the Premier League this season.
Boro are expected to demand a huge fee for his services, and the Whites are believed to have the cash to make a deal possible ahead of 2026-27.
Any deal is reportedly set to hinge on Middlesbrough failing to go up, however, and that outcome does not look likely as it stands.
Hellberg’s side have been the best team in the second-tier over the last six games, with six wins, and are showing no signs of slowing down at the top of the table right now.
They currently hold a five-point lead over third-placed Millwall, and even the likes of second-placed Coventry and fourth-placed Ipswich are in comparatively poor form.
Promotion would seem like an even bigger formality if they were to beat the Sky Blues on Monday night, and Hackney looks set to stay at the Riverside Stadium regardless, with Boro due to be playing Premier League football next season.
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Where are Opta predicting Boro and Leeds to finish this season?
Opta use form and current points totals to predict the Premier League and Championship tables come May, and all the signs point to Hackney staying at Boro ahead of next term.
Their current forecast sees Boro finishing at the summit of the second tier, with 86 expected points, a 51 per cent chance of winning the title, and a 78.58 per cent chance of being promoted as it stands.
Hackney will be staying on Teesside if that is how the Championship table ends up, despite Leeds being backed to stay in the Premier League by Opta.
Daniel Farke‘s side are 15th in the top flight as it stands, and have been predicted to finish nine points ahead of the relegation zone on 45, compared to West Ham’s 36.
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