Newcastle target Hayden Hackney could seal cut-price move from Middlesbrough

Newcastle United hold a long-term interest in Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney, and it's expected that the midfielder will be on the move in the summer.

After being given a shot at the Premier League after Southampton were kicked out of the play-offs, Middlesbrough couldn't take advantage at Wembley and were beaten to promotion by Hull City thanks to a second-half stoppage-time goal by Oli McBurnie.

Middlesbrough's Wembley curse continued, and now Boro must prepare for another season in the Championship, but reports suggest they will have to do so without their star midfielder, Hayden Hackney.

The Middlesbrough academy graduate is entering the final year of his contract, and no less than six Premier League clubs are monitoring his situation, according to The Chronicle.

Newcastle aren't currently in the running for Hayden Hackney

Strangely, despite holding an interest for a while, Newcastle aren't thought to be in the running right now, but that could still change. Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Leeds, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Brentford are all expected to battle it out for his signature.

The Magpies are on the hunt for a new midfielder, and Hackney is a player they know a lot about. The Chronicle claims Middlesbrough could let him go for less than the £25 million price tag he was slapped with in January.

There's every chance the boyhood Boro fan signs up for more years at Boro, but with so many Premier League clubs showing interest, if he's got any ambition, you'd expect him to make the leap.

We think Newcastle should re-engage

In commentary during the play-off final, Hackney was mentioned as one of the Championship's best midfielders and he's been expected to make the jump to the Premier League for a while now.

Newcastle, for whatever reason, seem to have cooled its interest in him. Perhaps they've seen something nobody else has, or they're trying to move in the shadows, which is something they do like to do. Who knows?

We'd like to see Ross Wilson make a move for Hackney, especially if we can snap him up for under £25 million. It seems like a good move all round to us.