Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney is garnering a lot of transfer interest heading into the 2025 January window.
Middlesbrough made very few sales during the 2024 summer transfer window.
Hayden Coulson joined Blackpool on a permanent basis but he was the only permanent exit from the Riverside Stadium, barring a couple of free-agent departures.
The likes of Zach Hemming, Sammy Silvera and Sonny Finch were sent out on loan but Michael Carrick was able to keep hold of all his top players despite several Premier League clubs lurking.
Ipswich Town tried to sign Emmanuel Latte Lath on deadline day in August but Boro rejected their bid.
After some interest from Europe earlier in the summer, Fulham tried to make a move for Rav van den Berg.
And though a bid did not come in, London duo Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United scouted Hayden Hackney over the summer.
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Middlesbrough stance on Hayden Hackney sale amid Aston Villa interest
The Spurs-linked star has since had a prolific start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign, including scoring the winner when Middlesbrough beat West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Hackney has come in for heavy praise after his showing at the Hawthorns and has seemingly done enough to impress some more Premier League clubs.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have been linked with the 22-year-old on Wednesday and Boro News now have an exclusive update on the situation.
We understand that Hackney being watched is something that Middlesbrough and the player are getting used to, and interest in him is only going to get worse in the coming weeks and months if he keeps up his current form.
Interest in the England Under-21 star has never been higher but Boro, for their part, will not look at a sale in January and aim to keep him to ensure they remain firmly in promotion contention come May.
Rav van den Berg, like Hackney, has a host of Premier League clubs tracking him, but similar to Hackney, Middlesbrough will be more than firm in their stance, with Carrick well aware that if he wants to make a proper promotion push, both Hackney and the Dutchman staying at the Riverside will be essential.
Middlesbrough cannot sell Hayden Hackney
Should Middlesbrough change their stance on allowing Hackney to leave in January, it would put a major dent in their promotion hopes.
The England U21 international has been in sensational form so far this season and losing him midway through a campaign would not be ideal.
Even with Boro’s improved recruitment over the last few years, it is hard to see them being able to bring in a like-for-like replacement in the winter window.
But should the Teessiders fail to secure promotion in 2024/25, it would not be surprising to see Hackney, who is earning £6.5k-a-week currently, move on in the summer, even if Boro do not want to sell.