Crystal Palace will reportedly compete with Aston Villa to sign 22-year-old English midfielder Hayden Hackney from EFL Championship club Middlesbrough this summer.
According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Hayden Hackney is the subject of interest from Crystal Palace. The Eagles are scouring the market for a midfielder heading into the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding Will Hughes’s future. However, the South London outfit will face stiff competition from Aston Villa for the Middlesbrough midfielder, with the EFL Championship club demanding £20 million to part ways with him.
Hayden Hackney has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the EFL Championship since breaking into the first-team squad at Middlesbrough FC. A native of Redcar, the Englishman is eligible to represent England and Scotland, and has turned out for both nations in age-group football.
The 22-year-old made his first-team bow for Middlesbrough in January 2021. However, the youngster had to wait until the 2022/23 season to enjoy his breakthrough at the Championship club. Hackney has turned out over 100 times thus far for Boro while chipping in with ten goals and eight assists.
Meanwhile, Hackney’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known Premier League clubs. Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are among the prospective suitors vying for the English midfield prospect’s signature heading into the summer transfer window.
Hayden Hackney has been on Aston Villa’s radar for a long time. The continued interest from the West Midlands outfit is understandable, considering Boubacar Kamara has struggled with a few fitness issues. In addition, Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley have spent spells on the sidelines. So, Hackney is an option worth considering for Aston Villa.
As for Crystal Palace, Will Hughes faces an uncertain future at Selhurst Park.
