Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney reveals how close he actually came to joining Ipswich Town
Hayden Hackney produced another stellar performance as Middlesbrough secured a massive 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town.
It’s early days in the Championship season, but Middlesbrough have established themselves as promotion contenders under the guidance of Rob Edwards.
Edwards replaced Michael Carrick as Boro manager during the summer, and after 10 games of the campaign, he has the Teessiders sitting top of the table.
Hayden Hackney is a huge reason why they’ve made an excellent start, and during their 2-1 win over Ipswich, the 23-year-old was instrumental.
Hackney covered every blade of grass and was the creative hub in Boro’s midfield, showcasing why he’s one of the best players in the division.
What Hayden Hackney said about failed Ipswich Town transfer
Football Insider exclusively revealed in March that Tottenham are interested in Hackney, who has regularly been linked with a Premier League move.
Spurs have since scouted Hackney, while the likes of Everton and Crystal Palace have placed the midfielder on their radar.
But during the summer, the above trio didn’t come as close as Ipswich did to signing the England under-21 international.
Ipswich saw a £20million bid accepted for Hackney, but he chose to remain at the Riverside Stadium, and he’s now broken silence on the rumours.
After beating the Tractor Boys, he was asked how close he came to joining Ipswich live on Sky Sports, and he simply replied: “It happened, and then I chose to stay, and I’m glad we got the win tonight.”
Hackney destined for the Premier League
Boro’s only chance of keeping Hackney beyond this season is by winning promotion to the Premier League, with many questioning how he hasn’t already been snapped up.
That is why Edwards must ensure that Middlesbrough are still in the promotion picture come January to give them a reason to hold onto him.
During the win over Ipswich, Hackney was unbelievable in every part of the game, including his aggressive ball-winning, line-breaking passes and ability to keep the ball under pressure.
| Hayden Hackney stats vs Ipswich Town |
| 90 minutes played |
| 50/55 accurate passes (91%) |
| 3/3 accurate long balls (100%) |
| 2/2 successful dribbles |
| 4 shots |
| 4/6 ground duels won |
| 4 clearances |
| 2 interceptions |
The above table proves just how incredible Hackney was against Ipswich, and Kieran McKenna will be fuming that he rejected the chance to join his side.