Hackney could hold key to Boro's midfield moves

WHEN it comes to reviewing Middlesbrough's current midfield and how the summer might pan out in that department, it's hard to escape that so much likely centres around Hayden Hackney.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

The Boro academy graduate has attracted plenty of interest over the last 12 months. After turning down two offers from Porto in January, Boro are braced for more enquiries this summer.

What's not clear right now is whether the Player of the Year will see this as the right time to move on and try to progress his career, or whether he tries to give his boyhood club one more year to realise his Boro promotion dream.

Boro will be able to profit highly this summer from the sale of their academy graduate. But after the recent big-profit sales of Morgan Rogers and Emmanuel Latte Lath, they won't be in a position where they're financially required to sell Hackney.

However, with just two years remaining on his current deal, there might not be a more opportune time than this summer as far as value is concerned.

Given the influence that Hackney has on the team, his future is likely to be one of the most important decisions made this summer. If he were to leave, the importance of sourcing an adequate replacement could not be understated.