- Hayden Hackney linked to Manchester United
- Midfielder played under Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough
- Reds need to be wary of not just aiming for familial players
There are still question marks around whether Michael Carrick will be hired as Manchester United‘s head coach at the end of the season. The 44-year-old has impressed in his tenure as Old Trafford boss.
The number one criteria all along has been if the former midfielder can get the club back into Champions League football for next season. After the 2-1 win against Brentford this week, the Reds just need two points to mathematically secure their position.
If Brighton & Hove Albion fail to win against Newcastle United on Saturday (2 May), United could have their UCL place confirmed before they even kick a ball on Sunday against Liverpool.
Talks have around begun about how Carrick could shape his squad, with one familiar name already linked.
Hackney Linked to Old Trafford
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Manchester United could make a move for Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney.
The 23-year-old excelled under Carrick in his time at Boro. This season, the midfielder has featured 40 time for the championship side, scoring 6 goals and porividng 8 assists in all competitions. Hackney has played a pivotal run in Middlesbrough’s promotion hopes. The team currently lay in fourth place, primed to be in the play-offs. However, if results go their way on the final day of the season, automatic promotion is still possible.
This has repercussions for the Red Devils. If Boro fail to win promotion, it is highly likely that Hackney will leave the club this summer. In his report, Crooks names “Nottingham Forest, Everton, West Ham and newly-promoted Coventry” as other clubs interested in the player. However, the pull of Old Trafford and a reunion with his former manager should be enough to sway his decision.
The Teeseide native recently won the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Year award, which shows just how well he has impressed this campaign. Despite being currently out with a calf injury, the midfielder is expected to be a part of Boro’s promotion run-in.
United Must Avoid Ten Hag Repeat
One of the biggest mistakes United made under Erik ten Hag was an over-reliance on players the manager already knew. By the time the Dutchman was sacked, the squad felt more like a “former Ajax XI” than the long-term project promised to fans. The club must avoid falling a repeat of that if Carrick is to take charge.
United have already been linked to Morgan Rogers, who thrived under Carrick at Boro. The club has to be careful not to make a habit of shopping exclusively from the manager’s contact list. However, Hayden Hackney represents a low-risk signing. He isn’t expected to walk in and overhaul the club’s entire dynamic, but as a cheap, reliable squad player who knows the system, he makes a lot of sense.
The Boro faithful seem resigned to his exit. Chants of “one more year, Hayden Hackney” rang out in the last game. With just 12 months remaining on his contract, Boro face a dilemma to keep or sell this summer. That does put United in the driver’s seat to secure a bargain – as long as he is just a cog in a wider transfer strategy for a midfield overhaul.
