Middlesbrough must have one eye on Oxford United amid Hayden Hackney transfer talk: View | OneFootball

It has been a good season for Middlesbrough in the Championship so far.

After losing to Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals last season, Boro were widely expected to challenge for promotion once again this time around.

It was a tough start to the campaign for Boro as they failed to win any of their first seven league games, but they have improved significantly since then to close in on the top six.

Boro suffered frustration as they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side Rotherham United at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, with substitute Marcus Forss rescuing a late point for the hosts after Cafu had put the Millers ahead in the 59th minute.

Michael Carrick's side currently sit 11th in the table, three points from the play-off places, and they are back in action when they face Chelsea in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

It has been a busy start to the transfer window for Boro, with midfielder Finn Azaz making a permanent move from Aston Villa and defender Luke Ayling arriving on loan from Leeds United, while defender Hayden Coulson has departed for Blackpool on a temporary basis.

There are likely to be further incomings and outgoings at the club over the coming weeks, but one player Carrick will be desperate to keep hold of is midfielder Hayden Hackney.

Hayden Hackney transfer latest

Hackney came through the Boro academy, and he enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough campaign last season, scoring four goals and providing six assists in 44 appearances.

The 21-year-old has remained a regular this season, netting two goals and registering one assist in 24 games, and his profile was raised further as he scored the winner in the 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg earlier this month.

It seems that Hackney's performances have not gone unnoticed, and according to the Daily Mail, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United are all keeping tabs on him, while Nottingham Forest have previously been linked.

Hackney is under contract until the summer of 2027, and Boro will be incredibly reluctant to lose him this month, but should he depart, Oxford United's Cameron Brannagan could be the perfect replacement.

Middlesbrough should look to Oxford United for Hayden Hackney replacement

Brannagan joined Oxford from Liverpool in January 2018, and he has established himself as one of the standout performers in League One during his time at the Kassam Stadium.

The 27-year-old is a player with excellent technical ability, and he has been a regular source of goals and assists for the U's over the years, proving to be particularly dangerous from free-kicks and the penalty spot.

Brannagan's best return came in the 2021-22 season as he netted 14 goals in 44 games, and he has played a key role in Oxford's promotion push this campaign, scoring seven goals and providing six assists in 29 appearances so far.

The midfielder has been the subject of plenty of Championship interest previously, and it was thought he was closing in on a move to Blackpool in summer 2022 after the Seasiders triggered a clause in his contract allowing him to speak to them, but he instead signed a new three-year contract with the Yellows.

Brannagan is likely to be on the radar of second tier clubs once again this month, and TEAMtalk claimed that Bristol City, who are managed by former Oxford boss Liam Manning, were plotting a January move.

It remains to be seen whether the Robins will test the U's resolve, but Brannagan would be more than capable of making the step up to the Championship, and if Boro were to lose Hackney, he should certainly be on their radar.

Hackney's exit would be a huge blow for Boro, highlighted by the fact Carrick's men lost five of their nine league games during his recent injury absence, but the arrival of Brannagan would significantly mitigate the impact of his departure.