Middlesbrough will know Spurs and West Ham could come knocking if Carrick quest fails: View | OneFootball

After top-flight clubs have shown an interest in Boro's Hayden Hackney, Carrick will know he'll have to push for promotion in order to retain him.

Middlesbrough will have to think about young midfielder Hayden Hackney departing if Michael Carrick's side don't achieve promotion this season, with Premier League clubs sure to be snooping.

According to a report from a TBR exclusive, a number of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham and West Ham, have been keeping tabs on the 22-year-old, who has impressed since his breakthrough on Teesside.

Hackney is labeled as one of the most promising players in the Championship and has been a vital component in Carrick's system.

The report, which came out in August, indicates that several top flight clubs watched Hackney in Boro's opening two Championship games, peering over Carrick's shoulder.

However, it's all down to Middlesbrough, if they retain Hackney, and their desperation for promotion back to the Premier League.

Spurs and West Ham could come knocking for Hackney

The potential of Hackney can skyrocket, and his development at Boro under Carrick has been outstanding.

However, if Carrick's pursuit for the Premier League fails once more this season, there is a stronger likelihood that Hackney will be a Premier League player in the summer of 2025 without his boyhood club, such is his quality.

The young midfielder possesses qualities of the Boro boss himself: calm on the ball and a great passing range, whilst also having the eagerness to push forward drop deeper positions.

The former Manchester United midfielder will be trying to fight off competition from two of his ex-clubs in Spurs and West Ham. There is no doubt these types of clubs can unlock Hackney's potential further, and the 22-year-old's ability will be a welcome addition, with the London pair often shopping in the EFL market for talent - this summer, they raided Leeds United for Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville respectively.

Carrick is into his third different season now at the Riverside. Having finished fourth and then eighth, there is an expectation to put up a serious fight for the top-six this season to avoid further regression. You feel it's important to show progress just to give Hackney something to think about as top clubs watch on.

Carrick challenges Hackney for 2024/25

Both Carrick and Hackney know that the young midfielder is destined for the top flight eventually. But, in the meantime, the Boro boss has made it clear he wants Hackney to take his game to the next level.

Speaking to Teesside Live following a pre-season fixture versus Dutch side Heerenveen, Carrick said: "That’s the challenge for Hayden now. He’s had a couple of seasons in the first team now, although I know he missed a fair bit last season. He wants to kick on and take his game to the next level now and that’s always the challenge of wanting to better yourself.

"I thought he was really good today and came back in pre-season looking really fit and there’s been a lot of good signs from him. He’s a really good age with good experience now to take that on to the next level and hopefully progress as the season goes on."

Boro may need Premier League football to retain Hackney

In 2025, Middlesbrough will be hoping to return to the Premier League for the first time since the 2016/17 season.

If they do it this time round, Hackney is bound to have a season at the Riverside.

Coming through the academy was his first step, but to have the chance to play on the Premier League stage with his boyhood club is an opportunity he can't miss.

However, if he impresses, this is sure to be interest in the young English midfielder.

As we've seen in the past, players have wanted to further their development after one season in the Premier League. An example being current Spurs winger, Brennan Johnson.

The Welshman achieved promotion with his boyhood club, Nottingham Forest, playing a key role in that like Hackney could do. He had a season with Forest to establish himself in the Premier League, and then opted for the move to Tottenham in the summer of 2023 on the back of an 11-goal involvements in his first top-flight campaign.

On the evidence of that, plus their move for Gray in the last few months, Spurs could be the perfect environment for the young midfielder to develop. West Ham, too, can boast Jarrod Bowen as an example: signed from Hull City and then turned into an England international who captains the Hammers.

Carrick can testify for both those clubs, knowing they each provided him with a stepping stone to Man United in his own career.

He's a Boro man now, though, and their fortunes in the Championship will be his focus. Hackney is at the heart of his side in 2024/25, with the task of taking his game to the next level. In doing that, he might well push Boro into promotion contention come May.