Hayden Hackney to Everton transfer update as departure confirmed

Everton have made Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney a transfer target for the summer window

Everton are continuing to negotiate with Middlesbrough over a deal for their star man Hayden Hackney.

And it appears that the beaten Championship play-off finalists want more for the midfielder than what they agreed to sell him for last summer.

Back then Middlesbrough were willing to allow their academy graduate to join Ipswich Town for £20m.

Hackney turned down that offer to remain with his boyhood club, where he has excelled under new boss Kim Hellberg.

And, according to a new report, it was Hackney's performances with Boro last season that has led them to demanding a bigger fee from Everton.

The ECHO understands that the player wants to join the Blues despite interest from the likes of Crystal Palace and Hull City.

However, getting him out of the Riverside Stadium may prove harder than what Hill Dickinson Stadium transfer chiefs may have hoped.

The opinion outside of Middlesbrough seems to have been that a fee of around £10-£12m would be fair given Hackney is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract and given the club missed out on promotion to the Premier League when losing to Hull at Wembley.

But the Mail claim that Boro are holding out for a bid of £20m plus £5m in bonuses for the Championship Player of the Season.

The report goes on to state that Everton are expected to return to the negotiating table after seeing their latest offer worth £18m - comprising £11m guaranteed and £7m in bonuses - knocked back.

It had been previously reported that Palace would be willing to pay £20m for Hackney, who is set to become a free agent in 12 months time.

However, it appears Middlesbrough could well be willing to take that risk if their asking price is not met, such is his importance to their hopes of a return to the Premier League.

The Blues are well-stocked in the centre of midfield. However, Idrissa Gueye's contract runs out at the end of the month while Tim Iroegbunam is once again the subject of interest, with Ipswich credited as one of the clubs who have him on their radar.

Meanwhile, one player who has left Everton is young winger Isaac Heath.

The 21-year-old has signed for newly-promoted League One outfit Cambridge United for an undisclosed fee.

It comes on the back of Heath enjoying a superb season on loan at League Two Accrington Stanley, where he won the club’s Young Player of the Season, Players' Young Player of the Season and Manager's Young Player of the Season awards.

Heath joined the Blues aged 13 and developed through the club’s academy ranks before becoming a regular with the under-18s during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.

Frequent football for the under-21s followed a year later, and in 2024/25, he won the club’s Under-21s Player of the Season award, notching six goal contributions in 16 Premier League 2 matches.

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