Everton Have To Pay £30m For Championship Midfielder: What Should David Moyes Do?

Everton have opened talks with Middlesbrough over signing Hayden Hackney this summer, but they remain far from Boro’s valuation. Early reports suggested a £10 million price, which financial analysts dismissed as unrealistic, with Stefan Borson arguing a realistic range is £20–£30m given Hackney’s quality and Premier League potential. Middlesbrough are holding firm at around £20m for the 23-year-old, who has 12 months left on his contract, and Everton appear prepared to meet that level as discussions with the player’s camp begin. Hackney was named Championship Player of the Season and played a central role in Middlesbrough’s run to the play-off final, which they lost 1‑0 to Hull at Wembley. Everton see Hackney as a fit for the defensive midfielder role vacated by Idrissa Gana Gueye, with Crystal Palace and Tottenham among other suitors and Manchester United not expected to pursue him seriously. With Everton’s poor late-season form adding pressure, the next steps hinge on Hackney’s holiday and a deal before the World Cup, as rivals press for a quick resolution to avoid losing ground.