Leeds United have already guaranteed themselves another season in the Premier League with matches still to play, and attention is beginning to turn towards the summer transfer window.
Now that survival is secured, the club are pushing ahead with their planning behind the scenes and continuing to assess several potential targets before the season comes to an end.
Unlike last summer, Leeds are not expected to make sweeping changes to the squad, but they still want to strengthen several important areas ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Leeds want to bring in midfield reinforcements to upgrade the squad, and Hayden Hackney has emerged as one of the top midfield targets the club are considering ahead of the summer.
Middlesbrough set price for Hayden Hackney
Boro lost the playoff semi-finals against Southampton. However, they could still play in the final amid the uncertainty after the ‘Spygate’ scandal.
However, it seems uncertain that the Saints will be barred from playing the final, so Boro are likely to spend next season in the Championship.
Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney is one player Leeds are seriously interested in, and the club are keen to take him to Elland Road in the summer.
Boro are aware that Hackney is likely to leave amid interest from the Premier League clubs, and according to journalist Alan Nixon, they have now set an asking price.
It has been claimed that Middlesbrough want in excess of £20m in the upcoming summer transfer window.
They do not want to drop the fee and are prepared to take the risk of holding on to him until January, when he will enter the final six months of his contract.
Leeds are amongst the three Premier League clubs who are pushing to sign Hackney in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is a fan
Hacknet flourished and established himself in the Middlesbrough team during Michael Carrick’s reign at the Riverside Stadium.
The former midfielder took him under his wings, and he emerged as one of the most talented young midfield operators in the Championship.
Manchester United are in the market for midfielders, and it would not be a major surprise if the Red Devils get involved in the race for Hackney.
Leeds are seriously interested in him, and may need to move quickly for him if they want to take him to Elland Road in the next few months.
