Everton are now leading the race to sign the midfielder after completing a personal assessment

Everton have stepped up to the plate to sign Hayden Hackney this summer after completing personal checks on the Middlesbrough midfielder.

Everton are in a good position to sign Hackney

While the final defeat against Merseyside rivals Liverpool will still be frustrating, Everton should be pleased with how their first campaign went at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees have moved from relegation to Europe’s upstarts and we still have time to pull off a shock qualification with five games to play.

There is no doubt that European football will help their transfer ambitions in the summer. Friedkin’s side have already done well to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry in big-money deals last summer, while also bringing in Jack Grealish on loan. But now they are looking to step things up a notch.

One name threatening to steal the headlines is Conor Gallagher and it is clear that strengthening the midfield will be among Everton’s priorities this summer.

The Tottenham Hotspur star has not done enough to stave off relegation woes since arriving in January and is unlikely to progress in the Championship – opening the door to an immediate exit.

However, when it comes to recent form, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest that the Toffees should focus their money on another midfield name.

According to TeamTalk, Everton are now in a good position to sign Hackney from Middlesbrough this summer, having completed a personal assessment.

The 23-year-old has been one of the players of the season in the Championship and looks destined for the Premier League even without Boro this summer.

“Unbelievable” Hackney are ready for the Premier League

While Gallagher stole the headlines for the wrong reasons, Hackney stands out as the man who would transform Everton’s midfield alongside James Garner.

Dubbed “unbelievable” by Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg, the England international has been eyeing a top-flight goal for a long time and could decide to take the Merseyside route if Boro fail to secure promotion.

Providing an update on the potential move, TeamTalk’s Graeme Bailey said: “More than half of the Premier League are following Hackney. Everton have been one of those watching over the last few weeks. A lot of midfielders will be moving this summer and Hackney will probably be part of that.”

As a partnership, Garner and Hackney would be a perfect match.

The former will cover the latter’s weaknesses in duels, while Hackney will provide the front-foot flair that Garner lacks. On paper, it’s a midfield game that’s ready to qualify for Europe if Friedkin can land the Boro star.