Hayden Hackney may embarrass Nottingham Forest as Brighton aim to muscle in for deal

Hayden Hackney could yet snub Nottingham Forest’s interest in favour of a move to Brighton this summer.

The Middlesbrough midfielder is heading into the upcoming transfer window as arguably the hottest property below the Premier League, and several clubs are queuing up for his signature.

Forest have had their eyes on the Boro captain since the very beginning, and are hoping that this can finally be the window where they tempt him to the City Ground.

However, it will be far from easy for the East Midlands outfit to secure the 23-year-old’s services, especially now that Brighton are trying to muscle their way in to get a deal done.

Forest are hoping to add to their squad ahead of next season, and have identified Hackney as an exciting option, but he may not view them in quite the same way.

Brighton’s track record to give them huge edge in Hayden Hackney race

Forest had appeared well-placed to land Hackney this summer, but Brighton’s interest in the 23-year-old could now be about to throw a major spanner in the works.

Football Insider revealed on Friday that the Seagulls are now trying to “steal a march” on Forest when it comes to the race for Hackney, which they feel they have a strong chance of winning.

That should be enough to spark serious concerns at the City Ground, given the South Coast side’s track record of developing young talent in recent years.

Brighton have sold countless emerging stars on to top clubs in recent years, and a move to the Amex Stadium has become a surefire way to boost your reputation in the Premier League.

The opportunities that have opened up for players after a spell with them are clear to see, and that is often a huge factor when it comes to them tempting players into joining.

With that in mind, a move there would surely be preferable to Forest for Hackney this summer, which would be an embarrassing development for the Reds, given how long they have shown their interest and failed to act.

Hackney’s future hinges firmly on Middlesbrough’s promotion push

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider last month that Hackney will be going nowhere if Middlesbrough secure promotion to the Premier League, which remains a distinct possibility in the coming weeks.

Kim Hellberg’s side have an outside chance of securing automatic promotion on the final day of the season, but will be set for a play-off campaign if not, with the ultimate prize on offer at the end.

Wyness made it clear that Hackney will stay put if the chance arises to realise his Premier League ambitions at the Riverside Stadium, where he has come through the youth ranks to become a star.

With that in mind, it could be argued that all of the potential suitors for him this summer are currently dependent on Middlesbrough, who could potentially fend off all the prying eyes if they get their own job done.

The post Hayden Hackney may embarrass Nottingham Forest as Brighton aim to muscle in for deal appeared first on Football Insider.