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Middlesbrough have agreed a deal in principle with Ipswich Town to sell homegrown talent Hayden Hackney.
Middlesbrough appointed Rob Edwards earlier in the summer to spearhead their 2025/26 Championship campaign.
Unfortunately for the new boss, it seems inevitable that he will be without central midfielder Hayden Hackney within his first season at the Riverside.
Middlesbrough are set to sign Callum Brittain from Blackburn Rovers at the expense of Derby County, which will be another defensive recruit for Edwards after Boro signed Alfie Jones from Hull City.
Despite those two sensible signings, the sting of losing homegrown Hackney to Ipswich Town will be difficult for Edwards and the Boro faithful to bear, and now the new boss has lifted the lid on the transfer saga.
- READ MORE: How Middlesbrough won the race for Callum Brittain as Blackburn Rovers finally admit defeat
Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards comments on Hayden Hackney’s future
EFL Analysis understands that Middlesbrough have agreed a deal in principle for Hackney with Championship rivals Ipswich, with that offer being an initial £15m, which could rise to £20m with add-ons.
EFL Analysis‘ football finance expert, Adam Williams, explained recently that Boro owner Steve Gibson is owed nearly £14m by the club, and that Hackney’s move will have major financial benefits for Middlesbrough, given that he is a homegrown prospect.
Last week, Middlesbrough fans turned on Hackney after it emerged he was ‘open’ to the Ipswich move if no Premier League suitors swooped in for his services this summer, in another blow for the Boro faithful.
Now, Edwards has commented on Hackney’s immediate future and what this means for Boro’s summer transfer window business.
Edwards told BBC Sport Tees: “The ball is in Hayden’s court, that’s where we stand.
“It’s a win-win. If he stays then he’s ours, which is great. If he goes, then there’ll be funds available.”
Former Luton Town boss Edwards will have been aware before taking the Boro job that Hackney was likely to leave Middlesbrough this summer after the club’s failure to finish in the top-six last season in Michael Carrick’s final games in charge.
Now, Edwards has also commented on the areas of the pitch that Boro need to strengthen, with the potential to do so by using the funds inherited from Ipswich, if Hackney does make the move.
Rob Edwards reveals where Middlesbrough must strengthen next
When quizzed about the links with Brittain and Boro’s other transfer plans, Edwards further explained that Middlesbrough now need to strengthen in two key areas of the pitch.
Edwards added: “There’ll be more action. There’s still a few that we’d like to do.
“I think we need strengthening on the outsides of the pitch. Probably in the middle as well now, plus a few numbers to add that competition, more quality.”
Given Edwards’ back-three system, wing-backs are imperative to his style of play, which has seen Boro pursue Brittain from Blackburn for several weeks.
Former Luton star Alfie Doughty was Edwards’ “dream signing”, and after Doughty joined Millwall instead of Middlesbrough last week, it’s clear that the Boro boss must reinvest some of those Hackney funds into recruiting a new left wing-back this summer.