Everton looks like it has won the race for one of the Championship’s most coveted midfielders, with Hayden Hackney understood to prefer a move to Merseyside over approaches from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

The 24-year-old Middlesbrough midfielder has reportedly made his preference clear, and Everton’s position at the front of the queue reflects a broader strategy at the club to bring in young English talent before the upcoming season.

What we know about the deal

The transfer is estimated to be worth around £15 million, which sits at the lower end of what Premier League clubs are currently paying for promising domestic midfielders.

For context, that price range reflects a market where young English talent regularly commands fees between £15 million and £30 million, meaning Everton could be getting Hackney at a relative bargain if the deal goes through at the reported figure.

Hackney has reportedly expressed a specific preference for Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, which is a notable detail. Player preference at this stage of a transfer saga tends to be decisive, particularly when the selling club wants a clean exit and a willing buyer is already at the table.

Manchester United’s interest, meanwhile, appears to have cooled. Manager Michael Carrick is working through a list of midfield targets as part of United’s ongoing rebuild, and Hackney’s clear lean toward Everton makes pursuing him a complicated proposition.

Tottenham Hotspur were also credited with interest, though they, like United, appear to have been overtaken by Everton’s early and decisive move in the race.

Why Hackney, and why now

Hackney has established himself as one of the more technically assured midfielders outside the top flight, and his age profile, 24 years old, makes him an attractive proposition for a Premier League club that wants someone capable of contributing immediately without the usual development timeline attached to younger prospects.

The timing also makes sense from a competitive standpoint. Everton’s midfield has needed reinforcement, and securing a deal in early June gives the club time to integrate a new signing properly before pre-season commitments intensify.

Everton moving into a new stadium at Hill Dickinson Stadium represents a fresh chapter for a club that spent over a century at Goodison Park. For a player choosing his next move, the prospect of joining a club at the start of something new carries genuine appeal.

Premier League clubs have leaned heavily into the domestic talent market in recent windows, partly driven by homegrown player regulations that reward squads with a strong contingent of English-qualified players. Hackney, at 24 and English, ticks that box clearly, which explains why a club the size of Manchester United was reportedly monitoring him alongside Everton.

If the deal closes at around £15 million, Everton will have paid a fair price for a player who could realistically be worth significantly more after a full Premier League season.