It's not just Hayden Hackney that Middlesbrough should prepare to lose this summer: View | OneFootball

It has been a tough few weeks for Middlesbrough in the Championship.

Boro lost to Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals last season, and they were expected to be among the promotion contenders once again this time around, but they made a slow start to the campaign, failing to win any of their first seven games.

Michael Carrick's side improved significantly between September and December to close in on the play-off places, but their form has declined since the turn of the year.

Boro have won just two of their last eight games, and their struggles at home continued as they were beaten 2-0 by Plymouth Argyle at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, with first half goals from Matthew Sorinola and Ryan Hardie sealing all three points for the Pilgrims.

Another top six finish is looking increasingly unlikely for Boro this season, with the club currently sitting 13th in the table, 11 points from the play-offs.

Failure to achieve promotion could make Boro vulnerable to losing some of their key players, and while much of the focus will be on Hayden Hackney's future, fellow midfielder Riley McGree could also attract interest from elsewhere.

Middlesbrough must plan for potential Riley McGree departure

Academy graduate Hackney has starred since making his first team breakthrough last season, and after another impressive campaign this term, he looks likely to depart in the summer.

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United are all keeping tabs on Hackney, while Nottingham Forest have previously been linked, and it could be tough for Boro to hold on to him should a Premier League side make a move.

Hackney has been one of Boro's best players this season, and he has been a huge loss during his current injury absence, but McGree has also been crucial.

McGree scored six goals and provided three assists in 46 appearances last season to help Boro reach the play-offs, and he looks on course to better that tally this campaign, having netted five goals and registered three assists in 20 games so far.

The 25-year-old has had injury problems this season, and he was absent in January while away at the Asia Cup with Australia, but it is clear to see that Boro are a better side with him on the pitch.

Boro faced competition for McGree's signature prior to signing him from Charlotte FC in January 2022, with the midfielder turning down a move to Scottish giants Celtic, and his performances during his time at the Riverside Stadium will not have gone unnoticed by other clubs.

Should another club make an approach for McGree this summer, the Australia international could be tempted to depart, as despite his importance to the team, his minutes have been limited at times this season.

, with summer signings such as Sammy Silvera and Morgan Rogers preferred ahead of him.

He was then given a run in the team prior to sustaining an injury in early October, but he again found himself being used mainly from the bench after his return in December.

McGree has started Boro's last three games, but he was substituted just before the hour mark in the defeat against Plymouth on Saturday, with some supporters criticising Carrick's decision to replace him.

Carrick's use of McGree has also been questioned this season, with the head coach deploying him on the right and in a more central role on occasions, despite his strong performances last term coming when playing on the left.

The departures of Ryan Giles, Aaron Ramsey, Cameron Archer and Chuba Akpom last summer have proven to be incredibly damaging for Boro, and they cannot afford to lose more of their star men in the upcoming window.

However, with their play-off push faltering, they must be braced for interest in the likes of Hackney and McGree, and they must plan for their possible exits.