Ipswich Town lining up ambitious transfer move for Middlesbrough player | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are interested in signing Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney, who has been on the radar of Premier League clubs.

Ipswich Town are keen on Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney as they look to strengthen Kieran McKenna’s midfield ahead of the Championship opener.

The Tractor Boys have seen Jens Cajuste and Kalvin Phillips return to Napoli and Man City after their loan spells, with influential captain Sam Morsy poised to leave for Kuwait.

So, even with the arrival of Azor Matusiwa from Rennes, it’s an area of the pitch that Ipswich are keen to address, and they have been linked with Mexico international Marcel Ruiz.

Ipswich Town join Premier League clubs in battle for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney

It appears Hackney is another name on Ipswich’s radar, as TWTD confirmed that the Suffolk outfit are looking to sign Hackney from Middlesbrough.

The 23-year-old, who was part of the England U21 squad that won the European Championship this summer, is regarded as one of the top players outside the Premier League.

It has been widely reported that Porto made offers to sign Hackney earlier this year, and the likes of Everton, Brentford and Crystal Palace are among the clubs thought to be monitoring the player.

However, the TWTD update claims that top-flight interest is yet to materialise in formal offers, which has opened up the door for Ipswich to try and get a deal done.

Hayden Hackney would be a statement signing for Ipswich Town

Despite their relegation, Ipswich have managed to retain many of their key players, but midfield is the glaring issue in the XI at the moment.

The signing of Matusiwa looks impressive, but they are still likely to be in the market for two midfielders, and there will be an expectation that one goes in the XI.

Clearly, Hackney would fit the bill, as he has proven himself at this level over the years, and he has the potential to play in the Premier League.

In truth, it would be a surprise if he didn’t move to the top-flight, but it shows the ambition of Ipswich that they are trying to convince Hackney to make the move to Portman Road, and they do have the financial power to make that happen.

Many will have Ipswich as favourites to finish in the top two this season, and the signing of Hackney would reinforce the idea that they will bounce back at the first attempt.