Man City eye Championship starlet that will require ‘substantial’ bid

Manchester City are one of a handful of Premier League clubs keeping an eye on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, a new report has revealed.

The England U21 midfielder has become a key cog in Michael Carrick’s machine at the Riverside Stadium, despite Middlesbrough sitting in 13th in the EFL Championship after 22 games.

The 21-year-old has become a burgeoning star in the division, leading to an expected rush of attention from the big clubs in the Premier League. Hackney has made the 16 appearances in the league so far this season, scoring one goal from his defensive midfield role.

And according to a recent reports from the Daily Mail and The 72, Manchester City are one of a handful of Premier League clubs interested in the Middlesbrough youngster.

As per the reports, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham join the Etihad outfit in observing Hackney as helps push the Boro.

Those clubs may have to wait to get their hands on Michael Carrick’s gem in the centre of the park however, as Hackney still has four years remaining on his Middlesbrough contract, and his expected to remain at the club beyond the 2024 January transfer window.

According to the report, any bid for Hackney would have to be ‘substantial’ to pry him away from Teesside, but if Middlesbrough fail to earn promotion to the Premier League, they could look to cash in on their prize asset.

Hackney had previously linked with a move to Nottingham Forest, but recent reports have suggested that the youngster is set for a top-six move given how highly he is rated by Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile for Manchester City, the Etihad club have bigger fish to fry before turning their attention to the January transfer market. The Blues kick off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Urawa Red Diamonds Tuesday evening.