Ciaran Morrison

Sat 11 April 2026 7:00, UK

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Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Hayden Hackney rests on whether Middlesborough achieve promotion to the Premier League.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who states that Hackney would make the move to the City Ground if Middlesborough do not go up this season.

The 23-year-old midfielder has been a standout performer for Middlesborough, who currently sit third in the Championship table.

Only goal difference separates Boro and Ipswich Town, who occupy the final automatic promotion spot, with the two sides set to face each other at Portman Road before the end of the season.

Hackney could be a replacement for Elliot Anderson this summer, as Nottingham Forest face losing key players in the transfer market.

Hayden Hackney backed to do ‘very well’ at Nottingham Forest

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks Middlesborough are currently the “dark horses” for promotion to the Premier League.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes Hackney is ready to take the step-up to the top flight, and that a move to Nottingham Forest would appeal to him.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “His age is right, he’s young, he’s talented, but if Middlesbrough do get up then he is not going to be going anywhere.

“That’s one of the first signings Middlesbrough are going to make to try and keep him there. A few things there to be resolved before he goes. He is exactly the sort of player that would come to Forest and do very well with Forest. 

“That question mark though about Middlesbrough going up. It’s a very tight race at the top of the Championship right now. Coventry look to be the ones that are going to be going up, but second place, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Millwall, is still up for grabs to a great degree. 

“If Middlesbrough can do it, and I think they’re probably the dark horses to get up there from my point of view, then that would be one of the first things they’d be doing is to keep Hackney and certainly not sell him until maybe a couple of seasons if they were relegated again.

“That’s the sort of situation I see. It’ll be a late decision unless his agent decides that they’re going to do something now, but they’d rather wait and have some leverage with Middlesbrough if they were to go up. 

“In the next few weeks those sorts of things will start to clear, and we’ll see where he goes, but he seems like he should be a Premiership player.”

Nottingham Forest to raid Championship for second summer signing

Nottingham Forest could poach more talent from the Championship this summer in a bid to bolster their ranks.

Sources revealed to Football Insider that Nottingham Forest hold an interest in Southampton midfielder Shea Charles.

The Tricky Trees could pounce if Saints do not bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt, with Tonda Eckert’s side currently in the play-offs.

22-year-old Charles began his career at Manchester City, and has proven himself in the Championship with Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday.