Manchester United could still move for midfielder who snubbed £20m Ipswich move

Manchester United have been keeping tabs on Hayden Hackney, who has been turning heads with his performances for Middlesbrough in the Championship.

Hackney, a Middlesbrough academy product from Redcar, was part of England’s U21 Euro-winning squad before turning 23. He is mainly noted for his ball progression and ability to break up play.

The Red Devils have been keeping an eye on Hackney’s situation and may now be even more interested following recent developments regarding his future.

Kieran McKenna, who previously worked at United before taking over at Ipswich Town, has reportedly been trying to bring Hackney to Portman Road after their drop from the Premier League. However, according to The Northern Echo, the British midfielder has turned down a move to Suffolk after talks with Ipswich.

Ipswich were hoping to wrap up a £20million deal for Hackney, but he has decided against it – potentially opening up an opportunity for United to make their move. While nothing is imminent yet between United and Boro regarding Hackney, this story isn’t going away any time soon.

Manchester United could take advantage of Hackney’s decision

It’s not entirely clear why Hackney turned down Ipswich, but that decision could open the door for other clubs to make a move.

United may be among those interested, though they might need to offload players before committing to a £20million deal.

While Hackney wouldn’t arrive as a headline signing, there are plenty of examples of EFL players who have made successful transitions to the Premier League.

Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze are two names who slipped through United’s grasp in recent years and have since thrived at the top level. United might see Hackney as a player capable of making a similar impact under Amorim in the Premier League.

Even with bigger names possibly on their list, Hackney’s rejection of Ipswich could make him a more attractive option for United, especially after Manuel Ugarte’s underwhelming performance against Everton.