Everton Face Tough Battle To Sign £20m Player: Is He The Right Man For David Moyes?
The negotiations have stopped. Everton want Hayden Hackney, but Middlesbrough are refusing to budge on their asking price. It is turning into a proper summer saga. The Toffees have already seen two distinct bids knocked back by the Teesside club. First came a £12m package, followed quickly by a £15m offer. Both were swatted away without a second thought. According to the Liverpool Echo, formal contact has finally been established between the two boards after weeks of radio silence. The problem? Goodison officials are still miles off Boro’s actual valuation.
Everton chase Hackney, but Middlesbrough play hardball over price
Now, the Mail reports that Middlesbrough are demanding a flat £20m. It is a steep figure. Especially for a player with just twelve months left on his current contract. Everton’s latest throw of the dice totalled £18m, structured as £11m upfront with £7m in add-ons. Boro said no. Despite the posturing, sources close to the deal think an agreement is getting closer. This coming week looks massive. Palace want him too, dangling the carrot of Europa League football. Yet Hackney prefers Merseyside.
David Moyes needs reinforcement. Fast. Last term’s 13th-place finish at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium was decent, but the midfield is unravelling. Idrissa Gueye’s deal expires this month. Tim Iroegbunam has suitors elsewhere. Meanwhile, youngster Isaac Heath has already packed his bags for Cambridge United.
Does the Boro midfielder actually fit the bill?
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic at Riverside Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
He does. Well, mostly.
Hackney is a proper box-to-box operator. He reads danger early, covers every blade of grass, and loves a tackle. He has that grit. Moyes has always leaned toward technically sharp, physically robust central players who can transition the ball quickly. Look at Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. He showed exactly how a dynamic midfielder transforms this side’s attacking output. Hackney operates a bit deeper, meaning they could easily play together. He brings the forward momentum this squad desperately lacks.
But there is a problem, the medical reports.
A calf injury sustained back in March 2026 is still causing issues. It hasn’t cleared up. That is a massive red flag when you are talking about spending £20m of top-flight money. Buying a player with a lingering physical defect during the final year of his contract is a massive gamble. Middlesbrough are right to protect their asset, of course. He was the Championship Player of the Year. But Everton cannot let emotion blind them to the financial risks here. They need to haggle the guaranteed fee down and pack the rest into appearance-based clauses.
