Crystal Palace fans could be in store for a special summer.
The Eagles are on the brink of adding another trophy to the cabinet at Selhurst Park after reaching the UEFA Conference League final, and reports in Spain add that Andoni Iraola is close to joining as a replacement for Oliver Glasner.
UEFA Europa League football and one of the best managers in the Premier League arriving would make Crystal Palace a seriously attractive outfit – and Steve Parish is looking to capitalise on that with a move for the Championship Player of the Season Hayden Hackney.
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Crystal Palace make Hayden Hackney deal a priority
The Telegraph now claim that Crystal Palace have made the Middlesbrough No.7 their number one target for the summer transfer window, and are lining up an opening bid of £12m.
The Championship is not quite what it used to be after the Eagles raided the division for the likes of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton, but Hackney has cemented himself as one of the best outside the Premier League this term, recently winning the Championship Player of the Season award.
In 38 Championship appearances this season, the England U21 international has scored five goals and provided eight assists from central midfield.
At the age of just 23, Hackney would be a wise signing for both the short-term and the long-term.
A move would undoubtedly become harder for Crystal Palace to pull off if Middlesbrough manage to win promotion via the play-offs, however. Boro face Southampton on Saturday in the first of two legs, where either Millwall or Hull await the winner at Wembley.
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Hackney will only have 12 months remaining on his contract at the end of the season, so if Middlesbrough fail to win promotion, it is highly likely they will cash in on the Redcar-born midfielder.
