4 perfect Hayden Hackney replacements Middlesbrough must consider if he leaves in the summer | OneFootball

Hayden Hackney has been one of Middlesbrough’s best players this season.

The 21-year-old has starred for Boro this season, being a focal point in the midfield.

His game is based on his passing ability, as he likes to get on the ball and make things happen.

Naturally, being a young player playing well in the Championship, he has attracted interest. Liverpool and Manchester United have been reportedly scouting him ahead of a move.

After managing to keep hold of him in the January transfer window, it feels very likely he will leave in the summer window, for a big fee too.

Boro will need to find a replacement, and with the amount of money they should be getting, they will have plenty of money to spend.

Herbie Kane

Currently playing his trade at Barnsley, the 25-year-old has been one of the best midfielders in League One this season.

Kane has found himself this season getting forward a lot more, getting into great goal scoring positions, which has seen his output go up.

Kane is slightly different to Hackney in that he is best used a bit deeper like Hackney was at the start of the season, being allowed to play with freedom by picking up the ball in deep areas.

But one area that Hackney has failed to contribute so far is goals and assists, which is something Kane has worked on this season.

Having performed admirably at League One level for a number of years now, he deserves a chance to play in the Championship once again.

If Barnsley fail to get promoted again this season, Kane may feel he should leave.

Joshua Nisbet

Boro showed in the summer that they are willing to venture to Australia to sign players, after they signed Tom Glover from Melbourne City and Sam Silvera from Central Coast Mariners.

One player they could look to sign from down under is Silvera’s former teammate, Joshua Nisbet.

The 24-year-old has been one of the best players in the A-League this season. His all-round game is brilliant, and like Hackney, is better in a more defensive position within the midfield. But he has shown this season he can do an admirable job in an attacking midfield role, too. A big part of his game like Hackney's is his passing, as shown by his high passing accuracy.

He would be a fairly low-risk signing, and his contract is up in the summer, so he would be available on a free.

Charlie Patino

The Arsenal midfielder is highly rated at the Emirates and is currently on loan at Swansea City.

The England U21 international has been playing well for Swansea, and has ranked highly for chance creation, goals, touches and aerial duels compared to other Championship midfielders.

Patino can play any role in central midfield, and whilst he is best when in an attacking midfield role, his defensive stats also show he can do a job in a defensive role too, like Hackney, as he ranks highly for ground and aerial duels won.

He has found his game time more limited under the Swans' new manager Luke Williams, so if for the rest of his loan spell he does not play as much, his stock could go down, allowing Boro to swoop in.

Patino might cost a lot, but with the money they will get from Hackney, they should be able to afford him.

Alex Robertson

Robertson started the season on loan at Portsmouth in League One from Manchester City, before his season was curtailed in January after suffering a serious hamstring injury.

But he showed for high-flying Pompey how good he can be. His vision and passing is excellent, and his progressive play is brilliant, ranking in the top five percent of League One midfielders for successful passes per 90, and the top four percent for touches per 90.

His ability to come deep from an attacking midfield position and position himself in space between the lines, to then link play after receiving the ball in those areas is impressive.

To be able to play in the ten role like Hackney but also be able to come back and link play makes him an ideal Hackney replacement.

He should be back from injury for the start of next season, and with it being unlikely he will break into the first team at the Etihad, he could be available for a decent fee.