Middlesbrough's search for a Hayden Hackney replacement is set to commence shortly after Boro agreed a deal with Everton for last season's Championship Player of the Year. The 23-year-old Middlesbrough academy graduate was integral to Kim Hellberg's high-intensity, exciting brand of football that wowed Championship fans in part last season.

What happened to Hayden Hackney?

Hackney's untimely injury coincided with their slide down from the automatic promotion places and into the play-offs. Ever since Boro lost the play-off final against Hull City, and it was known that Hackney would be entering the final year of his deal, a sale seemed inevitable.

Middlesbrough's stance on Oliver Skipp

The outcry that was generated by some sections of the Middlesbrough fanbase upon hearing that their side may replace one of their biggest assets in a long time with a defensive midfielder who got relegated out of their league last year has been dispelled by the club. According to Teesside Live, the higher-ups at the Riverside do admire Skipp, but they don't see him as a direct Hackney replacement. With the team currently sitting 5th in Championship, 15 points behind leaders Coventry, and having lost their last result 1-0 to Hull City on 2026-05-23, Middlesbrough fans are eager to see how the team will perform in the upcoming season. The recent form of 0W-1D-4L, including a streak of four consecutive losses, has raised concerns among fans.

What comes next for Middlesbrough?

Middlesbrough's head of football, Kieran Scott, and their head of recruitment, Chris Jones, were both heavily involved in bringing a then-19-year-old Tottenham youngster to Norwich City on loan back in 2020. The club's interest in Skipp is genuine, but they are not willing to spend £15 million on him, as reported by The Telegraph. The price tag is 'way beyond' Boro's limits, and if Skipp were to find his way to the Riverside this summer, it would be for a fee that the higher-ups deem suitable, expected to be a lot less than that hefty eight-figure sum. With 72 goals scored and 47 conceded, resulting in a +25 goal difference, Middlesbrough is looking to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.