🔵 Royal Blue: What would Hayden Hackney arrival mean for a midfield in flux?

Everton look as though they have their man.

After weeks of talks with Middlesbrough, the clubs have now agreed a deal that should bring Hayden Hackney to Merseyside, thereby making him the second signing of the summer (once you factor in Merlin Rohl’s loan being made permanent by virtue of Everton staying up).

All that is left is the technicalities and there is a growing expectation that Hackney will become a Blue quick enough for him to not have to turn up for the start of Middlesbrough’s pre-season later this week - though he is leaving on good terms and may well have some people to say goodbye to given his longstanding relationship with the club.

It would be too much to say the deal has felt inevitable but Everton quickly became the frontrunner and, while others have shown an interest, Hackney’s intimation that he wanted to join the Blues put the ball in their court.

And while Middlesbrough have sought to stand firm in their valuation of the 24-year-old, their failure to win promotion and his contract status, combined with Everton’s intent, meant the stand off that persisted until talks this weekend always felt like a phoney war.

The big question is what does this mean for Everton’s midfield? It is not unfair to say David Moyes has a squad loaded with central midfielders who would all quite like to play in the role of an #8, the position Hackney may be best suited to - initially at least. That is the main topic explored in this week’s Royal Blue newsletter, along with a look at the fascinating way interest in Thierno Barry has been received at Everton.