Credit: Imago

James Barker

Sat 18 April 2026 9:01, UK

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney, but newly-promoted Coventry City could be eyeing a summer swoop too.

Indeed, Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues sealed their long-awaited return to the Premier League with a 1-1 draw away at Blackburn Rovers on Friday night.

The Sky Blues are sure to bring some vibrancy to the top flight next season, and will no doubt give it a right good go back among English football’s elite.

However, as with any newly-promoted side, they will have to splash some cash this summer in order to bolster their playing squad.

Leeds’ summer transfer window plans will be to bring players in who can help them start moving up the Premier League table in the coming years, and one of those could be Middlesbrough’s midfield maestro, Hackney.

Coventry City linked with Leeds transfer target Hayden Hackney

Leeds are reported to be monitoring Hackney‘s situation at Middlesbrough, with the 23-year-old only contracted on Teesside until the summer of 2027.

The box-to-box midfielder has enjoyed another superb individual campaign for Boro in the Championship, registering five goals and seven assists from 38 second tier outings.

He’s been out of action since mid-March through injury, but the former England youth international has already put more than enough on tape to suggest he’s ready to meet the challenge of Premier League football.

Many top clubs have been touted to the Redcar-born midfielder since his Boro first-team breakthrough in the 2022-23 season, and one of those has been Leeds.

However, as per a report from the Daily Mail on Friday evening, Coventry City could also have his name on their summer shopping list.

The report claims that City will seek “greater athleticism” in midfield, and that could lead them to Hackney, especially if Kim Hellberg’s side don’t win a Premier League promotion of their own this term.

Leeds shouldn’t fear Coventry’s reported Hackney interest

Interestingly, Hackney may have just as good a chance to earn a starting role in the Premier League with Leeds as he would with Coventry.

The Sky Blues have a very good engine room, with all of Frank Onyeka, Matt Grimes and Jack Rudoni looking capable of being in their top-flight team.

Lampard has also routinely been setting them up in a 4-2-3-1, whereas Daniel Farke and Leeds have been experimenting with three at the back this season, and that could open up more opportunities for Hackney to find his way into the team.

Especially if Leeds press on with the 3-4-2-1 they deployed against Man United, with the two central midfield and two attacking midfield spots offering plenty of potential room to accommodate Hackney.