After a subdued January transfer window, it looks like Middlesbrough are already planning for a busier summer window.
Middlesbrough made some decent signings last month, with the permanent arrival of Finn Azaz certainly the pick of the bunch.
He’s since discovered his scoring touch with goals in his last two outings for Boro, setting a high bar for what fans hope is another active summer transfer window.
And as we edge towards the end of the season and the summer, the transfer rumour mill seems to be slowly starting to turn, with a few Middlesbrough stories making headlines.
Here we round up all the Middlesbrough transfer news from the last week…
West Ham keen on Middlesbrough gem Hayden Hackney
Last week, a report from The Sun revealed that West Ham are targeting Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, amid Kalvin Phillips’ poor form on loan with the Hammers.
Alan Nixon writes that scouts from West Ham and also Nottingham Forest watched Hackney in action in the 2-1 defeat vs Preston North End earlier in the month.
Hackney though is currently sidelined and that could potentially scupper his chances of a summer move to the Premier League.
Michael Carrick eyeing Manchester United raid for Will Fish
Middlesbrough are reportedly keen on Manchester United’s young centre-back Will Fish, who is currently playing on loan at Hibernian.
Fish, 21, has risen through the ranks at Old Trafford and is known to Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick from his time working in the Red Devils’ youth academy.
Fish spent time on loan with Stockport County in the 2021/22 season but has shone in two seasons with Hibernian, featuring 21 times in the Scottish Premiership last time round and 25 so far in this current campaign.
However, Boro are said to face some stern competition for the potential signing, with Hull City, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, Sunderland, and Sheffield United all reportedly keen.
Boro fancy Andrian Kraev
Reports coming out of Bulgaria this week have linked Middlesbrough, Coventry City, and Hull City with Bulgarian midfielder Andrian Kraev.
The eight-cap Bulgarian international currently plays for Levski Sofia but sees his contract expire in the summer.
Kraev, 25, has scored twice and assisted once in 18 league outings for Levski so far this season, who currently sit in 5th place of the Bulgarian top flight table.
Kraev has also featured six times in the Europa Conference League this season.