West Ham are among several Premier League clubs eyeing a move for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, but face growing competition from Everton and Crystal Palace.
The Hammers have been scouting the England U21 international for some time, but with Everton now entering the race, there’s a sense West Ham may need to move sharpish.
That said, rumours coming from the London Stadium seem to indicate that they will not be rushed into buying the wrong player. However, the Hammers have been snail like in their start to the summer window so one would hope any targets are long since established.
Former Irons boss David Moyes is said to be a long-time admirer of Hackney—and unlike West Ham, the Toffees are believed to have money to spend this summer.
Crystal Palace are also reportedly interested but may only firm up their interest if Eberechi Eze is sold—putting their move slightly on hold.
Hackney, 22, was one of the Championship’s standout midfielders last season under Michael Carrick, impressing with a string of composed and commanding displays at the heart of Boro’s midfield.
Portuguese giants Porto had a £9 million bid rejected for Hackney back in January. Since then, Boro have appointed Rob Edwards as manager following Carrick’s departure, and it remains unclear whether they’ll be open to selling this summer.
Hackney is now believed to be valued at around £12 million—a figure that, on paper at least, should be affordable for West Ham. That is, of course, if the club can start shifting gears in the transfer market and get a deal done before Moyesie decides swoop in.
You lot like to call Moyes dithering Dave so obviously there isn’t any hurry as far as Everton are concerned
No chance are we going to sign Hackney, and I wish we’d stop peddling these “targets” to appease the fans.
Currently we have Alverez, Irving, Potts, Rodriguez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse on the books that can play CM/CDM. We know Sullivan has spent all summer desperately looking to offload Kudus, and next on his agenda will be Alverez. Im guessing Potts will find himself loaned out again leaving us with a worse off midfield than last year.
Maybe as it looks likely we are going to sell Kudos to Spurs, we could sell Bowen to Chelsea , and get rid of anyone else who is half decent, then we could concentrate on building a good entertaining defensive team, McGuire and co , would be great wouldn’t it ! After 60 years supporting, I have never felt so uninspired this circus of a club, and that’s doing a circus a disservice.
If there other clubs interested and any speed required then it’s not going to happen.
I can’t help but feel that despite Potter & Macaulay having a system for identifying young players with potential that we still operate an undisciplined scattergun approach. The amount of number 1 targets we’ve had so far in the summer break is no different to any other season when a certain individual is running the transfer strategy.
why didnt he try sign a young dynamic ball playing midfielder like this for us?
We are pathetic
Can I also add, embarrassing, incompetent and probably relegation candidates!