Nottingham Forest want transfer deadline day additions to strengthen Sean Dyche’s Reds squad
12:15, 02 Feb 2026Updated 12:16, 02 Feb 2026
Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney has been the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty)
Nottingham Forest have had a deadline day approach for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney rejected.
The 23-year-old has been on the Reds’ radar for some time and is someone they have scouted in action. They were first credited with an interest in him back in 2023 and his name has regularly cropped up as a potential target since.
As the clock ticks down to the closing of the current winter transfer window, it seems Forest have now made their move. An approach for Hackney has been knocked back by Boro.
The Championship side are pushing for promotion to the Premier League and they are keen for the former England Under-21 international to remain as part of that charge. It is said Middlesbrough are also unwilling to sell one of their key men so late in the window.
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Hackney has 18 months remaining on his contract at the Riverside. He came up through the ranks at the club and has racked up more than 120 league appearances since breaking into the senior set-up.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham United are among the clubs to have also been linked with Hackney in the past. He could have joined Ipswich Town last summer but remained with Boro.
After scoring the only goal of the game to help Kim Hellberg’s team beat Norwich City on Saturday, the skipper dismissed any chance of him leaving before the window closed. He said: “No. I’m really happy. The manager’s got me playing the way I enjoy playing, getting the best out of me. So yeah, I’m really enjoying it.”
He added: “This is what I’ve wanted to do ever since I was a kid – play for Middlesbrough. And where we are in the league at the minute, as long as we just keep going, we feel confident.
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“Winning promotion with Middlesbrough would mean everything to me. I don’t know how I’d be, but I know I’d be over the moon. That is the dream.”
Sourcing a midfielder is proving challenging for the Reds in the final hours of the transfer window. Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi appears likely to remain in Italy and Forest have had two bids for Celtic youngster Arne Engels rejected.
Sean Dyche’s side have until 7pm this evening to wrap up their business. They have made two signings so far, in striker Lorenzo Lucca and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, but are still after another forward and a left-back, along with a midfielder before the window closes.
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