It could be all change in the Albion midfield this summer. Carlos Baleba continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United but Brighton might already have his replacement lined up in the shape of Middlesbrough captain Hayden Hackney.
The 23-year-old was named Championship Player of the Season. He scored six goals in 40 appearances across all competitions and provided eight assists as a deep lying midfielder in Boro’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
That form has seen Hackney attract the interest of Nottingham Forest, Spurs, Everton and the Albion. Boro have apparently set an asking price of £30 million.
Both Forest and Brighton could have midfield vacancies next season. Baleba is ending 2025-26 in good form which might be enough for United to renew their interest from last summer.
United have also been linked with Tricky Trees midfielder Elliot Anderson. As have Manchester City. If Anderson does leave the City Ground, Hackney would be an obvious replacement.
And just to throw another layer of intrigue into the rumour mill, United have shown tentative interest in Hackney themselves.
Which could lessen their need to sign Baleba or Anderson. Don’t you just love a game of summer transfer window musical chairs?
Comparing Hayden Hackey and Carlos Baleba
There are plenty of similarities between Hackney and Baleba. For starters, they both play the same role in the same system.
Middlesbrough ended the regular season with the highest possession percentage in the Championship of 59.5 percent.
Hackney is central to that dominance. He often drops deep to receive possession from the back four and then looks to get Boro up the pitch.
Like Baleba, Hackney likes to drive forward with the ball. His average of 4.15 progressive carries per game is the most of any midfielder in the second tier this season.
Hackney also tops the Championship numbers for ball recoveries (182) and midfield possession wins (104).
Underlining his importance and the difference he made to Middlesbrough is what happened when they were forced to play without him.
Hackney picked up a a calf injury in the middle of March which ruled him out for the final eight games of the season.
Boro won just two of those matches to tumble from second in the table behind Coventry City to a final position of fifth.
Brighton move would suit Hayden Hackney
WAB’s favourite Championship pundit Kevin Phillips believes Hackney is ready for the Premier League. But that he needs to pick the right club. Someone like Brighton.
Speaking to BestBettingSites.co.uk, Phillips said: “Hayden is a fantastic player and he will be on the radar of a lot of clubs, that is for sure.”
“Obviously, if Middlesbrough do not come up then I fully expect him to move on. If he ended up going to Brighton, they play fantastic football and that would suit him.”
“If he went to Manchester United, I mean wow. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world. Can you turn that down?”
“The biggest thing for me when it comes to Hayden would be if you leave Middlesbrough, make sure you go somewhere you are going to play. It is that simple.”
“There is nothing worse than having played the majority of his season at your previous club, then you go, big move to somewhere and you sit on the bench every other week.”
“That is no good for him. So I think he needs to a be a little careful where he goes. Even if I think he could walk into a lot of Premier League sides.”
Hackney is destined to play Premier League in 2025-26
As Phillips says, Hackney looks destined to play Premier League football in 2026-27 one way or another. Either via a transfer away from the Riverside Stadium. Or by leading Middlesbrough to promotion.
Which still remains a possibility. Boro might have been eliminated from the playoff semi finals by Southampton but that is not the end of their top flight dreams.
Saints may yet be booted out of the playoffs out and Middlesbrough take their place in the final at Wembley against Hull City.
Southampton’s fate is dependent on the severity of any punishment for sending a scout to secretly watch Boro training before the first leg.
If Middlesbrough are reinstated, beat Hull and win promotion in such ludicrous circumstances, Hackey will likely remain with Boro for their crack at the top flight.
Effectively meaning the chances of Brighton signing Hackney are hinging on the behaviour of a man hiding in a bush.
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