West Ham delegation eye Hayden Hackney as club record deal in pipeline
West Ham have maintained interest in Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
Hackney has emerged as a West Ham target previously, but a January move never materialised in the end.
There was a suggestion that Hackney could join West Ham on an initial loan, but with Boro flying high, that was always set to be unlikely.
Hackney scored in his last outing as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory against Norwich City to send his side joint top of the Championship.
A deal still could be on the table for the midfielder, with the Hammers continuing to keep tabs on the 23-year-old ahead of the summer window.
West Ham continue interest in Hayden Hackney
Hackney has been a long-term target at West Ham, something which doesn’t come as a surprise based on his form at Middlesbrough.
The Englishman came through at The Riverside and has been a regular since returning from a loan at Scunthorpe United in 2022.
He has gone on to make 142 appearances for Boro and is playing a key role as Kim Hellberg’s side go in search of promotion to the Premier League.
His excellence in the second tier has long prompted interest at the London Stadium, with that continuing into the January window and beyond deadline day.
SportsBoom reported on Monday that the Hammers have continued to scout the midfielder in “special protocol”, with “glowing” reports emerging from the delegation.
Middlesbrough are set to demand a “staggering” fee in the region of £35million for Hackney’s signature, something which would represent a club record for a home-grown sale for Boro.
West Ham could agree £35m summer deal for Hackney
The interest in Hackney is long-standing and would represent a superb piece of business for the claret and blue outfit.
Having already signed Mateus Fernandes last summer, adding another all-action midfielder to the ranks would certainly be wise.
The Englishman will have his eye on promotion this season, while West Ham are staring relegation in the face, so an interesting summer situation could unfold.
If Boro miss out on a change in division, there is every chance the Irons can make a deal work, even if a £35m demand is still on the table.
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