- David Ornstein says Hayden Hackney likely to join Everton
- Middlesbrough midfielder previously linked with Newcastle United
- Hackney could be ideal Sandro Tonali heir
Newcastle United are reeling from Anthony Gordon’s departure, with the England international recently sealing a surprise move to Barcelona.
And now, David Ornstein has provided a transfer update on Hayden Hackney, who has keen admirers at the club.
The Magpies are likely to sign a midfielder or two in the transfer window, especially with Sandro Tonali linked with a potential transfer.
That said, if Hackney is the chosen one, they may have to move quickly as the exciting midfielder has other suitors in the Premier League.
Everton favourites to land Hayden Hackney
Earlier this summer, Hackney was linked with a move to Newcastle United after his strong performances for Middlesbrough in the Championship.
The 23-year-old has been a household name in the second tier of English football for a while now and is expected to move on to greener pastures this summer.
And now, Ornstein reports that Everton are leading the chase for Hackney, with Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Manchester United also mentioned as potential suitors.
The Toffees are leading the race to secure his signature. The interesting aspect of Ornstein’s report is that Newcastle haven’t even been mentioned despite being linked with the player earlier in the summer.
Whether or not they’ve dropped their interest or simply decided to look elsewhere, however, remains to be seen.
Hackney could be a big miss for Newcastle United
In recent years, the likes of Archie Gray and Alex Scott have successfully stepped up from Championship football to become key players in the Premier League.
And Hackney looks like he’s headed on the same trajectory, so this could be a big blow for Newcastle United.
The likes of Tonali and Joe Willock have been linked with departure, so their engine room could do well with a reinforcement or two.
Read More: Inner workings of Gordon deal show Newcastle United power dynamic has shifted
Hackney is capable of playing anywhere in midfield and his addition would give Eddie Howe another versatile option to work with.
He was named the EFL Championship Player of the Season and also voted Middlesbrough’s Player of the Season for his outstanding exploits in their promotion push.
However, with Everton now leading the race to sign him, the Magpies will have to look elsewhere to bolster their midfield options.
