Forget Hayden Hackney, Middlesbrough must be wary of losing £2.5m star in 2025 summer transfer window

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Middlesbrough’s precarious league position means they are likely to lose some top stars in the upcoming transfer window.

Boro drew 0-0 with a struggling Luton Town in their final clash before the March international break.

This left Middlesbrough eighth in the Championship and three points outside of the play-off places ahead of their return to action.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
6	West BromWest Brom	38	13	18	7	48	34	14	57
7	Bristol CityBristol City	38	14	15	9	49	41	8	57
8	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	38	15	9	14	57	48	9	54
9	BlackburnBlackburn	38	15	7	16	42	40	2	52
10	WatfordWatford	38	15	7	16	47	51	-4	52

Three points is by no means a massive gap and it could be overturned, but the Teessider’s run of just three wins from nine in 2025 suggests that, once again, Michael Carrick’s men will fall just short of the top six – missing out by four points in 2023/24.

Should that happen, it looks as though the North East outfit will be parting with some big names.

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As well as Hayden Hackney and Rav van ben Berg, Middlesbrough must fear losing top star

Boro have already lost one of their best players this season, selling Emmanuel Latte Lath to Atlanta United in the winter transfer window.

Meanwhile, EFL Analysis understands that it’s very likely Hayden Hackney will leave Middlesbrough if they fail to make the play-offs.

Several Premier League clubs, including Fulham and Everton, have looked at the midfielder in recent weeks.

Similarly, transfer expert Graeme Bailey predicted Rav van den Berg will depart Middlesbrough if they don’t win promotion this season.

However, while it seems clear said duo will be on their way later this year, Boro must fear the exit of another player.

That man is Finn Azaz who, while he has been inconsistent at times, is one of the North East outfit’s best players.

Azaz earned praise from Ireland fans when he scored in their recent win over Bulgaria this week.

For Boro, meanwhile, he has 10 goals and 11 assists, leading the Championship in the latter of the two stats.

The man whom Azaz is fighting for top spot with Tom Fellows, has Premier League interest, and it seems inevitable that clubs in the top tier will start looking at the Middlesbrough ace if he carries on his current form for the rest of the campaign.

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How much could Middlesbrough sell Finn Azaz for

Boro have become a selling club in recent years, as is evident by the big-money exits of Chuba Akpom, Morgan Rogers, and the aforementioned Latte Lath.

Azaz joined Middlesbrough in January 2024 from Plymouth Argyle for a fee The Athletic reported to be £2.5m.

Given how prolific he has been in 2024/25, however, the Reds will surely demand a much higher sum if a top-flight club does come knocking.

Transfermarkt currently value Azaz at around £7.5m but Middlesbrough will likely want more given they were able to get over £20m for Latte Lath, who is two years older and was similarly important to Carrick.