Exclusive: Middlesbrough Plan New Contract for Hayden Hackney to Fend Off Rob Edwards and Wolves

Middlesbrough want to tie down Hayden Hackney to a new deal amid controversial interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Our sources have been told Boro bosses are adamant he is not for sale this term as the club target Premier League promotion, and especially do not want to sell to Wolves after the Rob Edwards saga. 

Middlesbrough released a scathing statement after reluctantly allowing Edwards to go to Molineux. 

The midfielder’s future is hot topic every time a transfer window rolls around with Boro fans fearful whether their star will leave or not.

Our sources understand interest in the player remains rife as we head towards the winter window opening in January. 

It is their best shot at returning to the promised land since 2017, despite Michael Carrick’s successor Edwards jumping ship to former club Wolves with Boro firmly in the title fight.

Our sources understand Boro chiefs are working on a package behind the scenes to secure Hackney’s future at the club, and ultimately drive up his market value if they do essentially sell the 23-year-old ace.

Hackney, who is under contract until 2027,  has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Wolves in recent windows. 

Wolves first registered strong interest in Hackney during the summer under Vítor Pereira, with a fee of around £35 million touted, a valuation that is expected to remain unchanged heading into January. And sources have been told Wolves' interest has only intensified since Edwards took over.

Edwards believes Hackney could help the club retain their Premier League status this term and sees him as someone to build the club around having worked closely with him in recent months.

Homegrown Talent 

Hackney was recruited by the Teesside club in 2011 and has been on the books at the Riverside ever since.

He made his first-team debut in 2021 and has gone on to represent the club 129 times, scoring 13 times.

A breakthrough 2022/23 campaign saw Hackney awarded the club’s Young Player of the Year award after making 34 league appearances, scoring three times.

Last term he bagged five goals in 43 Championship outings and has started all 15 of the club's league fixtures so far this term.