Middlesbrough news: Hayden Hackney exit threat, Danny Ings, Callum Brittain issue | OneFootball

We rounded up all the latest news from Middlesbrough as transfer activity continues to gather pace at the Riverside Stadium.

A new era is underway at Middlesbrough following the appointment of Rob Edwards as the club's new head coach, but it has been a quiet start to the summer transfer window at the Riverside Stadium.

It was a disappointing campaign for Middlesbrough last season as they finished 10th in the Championship table, and after a lengthy internal review, head coach Michael Carrick was sacked last month after just over two-and-a-half years in charge.

The likes of Steve Cooper and Danny Rohl were linked with Boro after Carrick's exit, but the club instead opted for Edwards, who had been out of work since leaving Luton Town by mutual consent in January.

Edwards is yet to bring in any new signings since taking over at the Riverside Stadium, but there have been two departures in recent weeks, with goalkeeper Zach Hemming joining League Two side Chesterfield and striker Josh Coburn completing a permanent move to Millwall in a deal that could be worth up to £5 million after a successful loan spell at The Den last season.

However, it appears that Boro's transfer window is starting to heat up, and with that in mind, we rounded up all the latest news involving the Teesside outfit.

Ipswich Town targeting Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney

After coming through the club's academy, midfielder Hayden Hackney has established himself in the Middlesbrough first team in recent years.

Hackney enjoyed another impressive campaign last season as he scored five goals and provided three assists in 44 appearances in all competitions, and he was part of the England squad that won the European Under-21 Championship this summer.

It was claimed last month that Hackney is attracting attention from a number of Premier League clubs, including Everton, Brentford, Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham United, while Porto, Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen are also said to be monitoring the 23-year-old.

However, it seems Hackney also has a surprise Championship suitor, with TWTD claiming that newly-relegated Ipswich Town are keen on the midfielder, and the Suffolk side are even believed to have made an approach to Boro as they step up their interest.

Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen join Rav van den Berg transfer race

Hackney is not the only key player Middlesbrough could be vulnerable to losing this summer as it appears defender Rav van den Berg also has no shortage of admirers.

Van den Berg joined Middlesbrough from Dutch side PEC Zwolle for a fee of just €300,000 (£260,000) in the summer of 2023, and while his second season at the Riverside Stadium was not quite as strong as his first, his stock does not appear to have fallen too much over the past 12 months.

Brentford are reportedly keen to reunite van den Berg with his brother Sepp at the Gtech Community Stadium, while fellow Premier League duo Fulham and Crystal Palace are also thought to be weighing up a move for the highly-rated 21-year-old.

However, according to Sky Sports, the top flight trio now face competition for van den Berg's signature from Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen, and the Bundesliga clubs are said to be "showing the most interest at this time".

Middlesbrough plotting Danny Ings move after West Ham United exit

Edwards is yet to make his first signing as Middlesbrough manager, but that could all be set to change amid reports linking the club with a move for former West Ham United striker Danny Ings.

Ings scored five goals and provided five assists in 69 appearances for the Hammers after arriving from Aston Villa in a deal worth up to £15 million in January 2023, but he featured just 17 times in all competitions last season, and he was released at the end of his contract this summer.

The Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards claimed on Monday night that Ings was "on the verge" of signing for Boro, but while it appears a deal is not quite that imminent, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie revealed that the 32-year-old's move to the Riverside Stadium is "looking likely" as the Championship side are his "most attractive option".

Boro are in need of a new striker this summer to replace Emmanuel Latte Lath, who departed for MLS side Atlanta United in January for a fee of £22.5 million, and it seems they are now closing in on Ings.

Journalist Alan Nixon revealed last week that Middlesbrough had made a £2.5 million bid for Blackburn Rovers defender Callum Brittain, who scored two goals and registered five assists in 35 appearances for the Lancashire outfit last season as they narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs.

As he enters the final year of his current contract at Ewood Park, Rovers have offered Brittain a new deal, but he has rejected the club's proposal, and manager Valerien Ismael revealed that he asked to be left out of the squad for Saturday's pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley.

Ismael confirmed that one club are particularly interested in Brittain, but the Frenchman warned that "they have to come back with a better offer", and, according to Downie, there is currently a "gap in valuation" between Boro and Blackburn.

It remains to be seen whether Boro will return with an improved bid for Brittain, but their failure to agree a fee could open the door for other clubs to make a move for the defender, with Derby County and Wrexham also believed to be keen.