West Ham have joined Frank Lampard’s Coventry City in the race to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
Even though Coventry have won the Championship title, Hackney received the Player of the Year award last weekend.
This demonstrates just how impressive the Englishman has been for his boyhood club during the 2025/26 campaign.
West Ham, Coventry and several other Premier League clubs are now determined to lure Hackney away from the Northeast.
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Name a better Mateus Fernandes replacement than Hayden Hackney… 💭
Realistic signings only! We'd all love Bernardo Silva 😂
West Ham battle Coventry City for Middlesbrough captain Hayden Hackney
Middlesbrough had looked likely to steal the Championship title from Coventry at one stage, or at least finish second.
A top-two finish would have ensured promotion to the Premier League and given Boro a chance to keep Hackney next season.
However, a recent dip in form means that Middlesbrough will likely need to win the play-offs later this month.
Anything but promotion would effectively confirm that Hackney has played his last game for the club, with a Premier League move on the cards.
As well as West Ham and Coventry, Nottingham Forest and Everton are also interested in signing the do-it-all midfielder, as per talkSPORT.
The 23-year-old excels at dictating tempo from deeper positions, being decisive in the final third and winning the ball back.
Those all-round qualities would make him an ideal replacement for Mateus Fernandes, who will probably leave West Ham this summer.
The Hammers will find it almost impossible to keep him amid interest from Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.
If Fernandes were to leave, Nuno Espirito Santo would be wise to push hard for the signing of Hackney.
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