Football
Exclusive: Brentford and Brighton Ready to Pounce for Teesside Talent Hayden Hackney
Brentford and Brighton are eyeing a £10M move for Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney, a promising England prospect. The midfielder's talent has caught the attention of Premier League clubs, with potential for a hefty wage increase. Despite interest from Manchester United, Boro are keen to keep the young star.
Leeds United FC v Middlesbrough FC - Sky Bet Championship by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA | Getty Images
Brentford and Brighton are both prepared to shell out around £10 million to land England and Middlesborough young gun Hayden Hackney, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Our sources have discovered that both the Bees and the Seagulls have been monitoring the wanted midfielder for some time.
And even though Hackney’s current contract has two more years left to run, the Premier League clubs are confident they can strike a deal if the price is right.
Hackney is believed to earn £6,500 a week, but his wages could easily double – even triple - if he pens a deal to play in the Premier League.
The Bees are especially keen on the fledgling talent who has starred for Boro in the Championship this season.
He turns 23 on Thursday and having already represented the Young Lions 12 times, there is growing opinion that Hackney has a really bright future ahead of him.
TEESIDE TALENT
The Teeside talent was given his big break by former Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate, who saw plenty in the young star to give him his chance in the Championship.
And Hackney has blossomed under Michael Carrick, himself a midfielder, during the past couple of seasons.
In all he has racked up 75 appearances in the English second tier over the course of the last three seasons and chipped in with seven goals during a career which promises plenty.
The club’s former Young Player of the Year winner, Hackney is understood to be happy at Boro, especially as the club has been a big part of his life so far.
But a potential move to the Premier League – and after a second season in which the club failed to reach the play-offs – has left Hackney and a number of fellow Boro players understandably frustrated.
Boro are keen to keep Hackney and are understood to have held initial talks about a new deal, but our sources have learnt a Premier League deal is just around the corner.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.