Middlesbrough must cash in Aston Villa credit to land £5m-rated defender ahead of Southampton FC | OneFootball

Boro could have an ace card up their sleeve to land Kaine Kesler-Hayden's signature ahead of Southampton and Coventry City.

Middlesbrough may have an advantage over Southampton and Coventry City if they're serious about signing Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden this summer.

According to a report from Birmingham World in mid-May, Southampton and Coventry City are both battling to sign the 22-year-old.

However, a recent revelation from The Northern Echo has confirmed that the former Preston North End loanee is indeed on Middlesbrough's transfer radar too this summer.

The Sky Blues are understood to have already drafted up a £5m plus add-ons package for the Villa man, but if Boro firm up their interest in the versatile defender, the Teessiders could have an ace card up their sleeve that could land them his signature ahead of their Championship rivals.

Middlesbrough have banked up some major transfer credit in the bank with Aston Villa over recent years

Aston Villa and Middlesbrough have forged a trusting and fruitful transfer relationship over the last few years.

Including the dual loan signings of Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey in the 2023 January transfer window, Boro and the Villans have engaged in five individual transfers over the last two-and-a-half years.

All of them have been effective in their own right, with both clubs banking major profits as a result of some of those deals.

Villa were able to collect a combined sum of over £30m with the sales of Archer and Ramsey, which was largely able to happen due to them arriving back at Villa Park fresh off the back of impressive loan spells with Middlesbrough.

The two clubs then swapped roles with Morgan Rogers, after Boro had captured his signature from Manchester City for a mere £1m in the summer of 2023, before being sold to Villa in a deal worth up to £16m six months later.

With the 22-year-old now having firmly established himself as one of the most exciting young players in the Premier League, Boro look certain to receive another big payday in the near future, having agreed to insert a 20 per cent sell-on clause in the deal that sent Rogers to Villa Park.

The transfer relationship doesn't stop there either, as Middlesbrough were also able to complete a permanent deal for Finn Azaz in the 2024 winter window, whilst also being entrusted with the loan signing of Samuel Iling-Junior during the second half of this past season.

Middlesbrough should use Aston Villa relationship to help land Kaine Kesler-Hayden's signature

The expectation is that Kesler-Hayden will leave Aston Villa on a permanent basis this summer, and that should spring Middlesbrough into transfer action.

Right-back has already been identified as being a position that Boro need to/will strengthen at this summer, and Kesler-Hayden will undoubtedly tick a lot of the club's boxes.

Capable of playing anywhere across the defensive line, and even in midfield as a winger, the 22-year-old has proven himself to be an excellent right-back during his season with Preston last term, and indeed from his previous loan spells in the second tier with Plymouth and Huddersfield respectively.

He displayed a unique ability to not only be a force in defence, but also in attack, with his tireless work-rate affording him the opportunity to routinely leave his impression at both ends of the pitch.

With Anfernee Dijksteel now gone, and with 33-year-old Luke Ayling remaining as the club's only natural right-back who is coming off the back of a disappointing 2024/25 season with just 12 months remaining on his contract, Middlesbrough need to find their future at that position ASAP.

Kesler-Hayden could very well be that, and as such, Boro should not hesitate to try and use their transfer relationship with Aston Villa to their advantage this summer, and use it to land his signature ahead of both Southampton and Coventry City.