Middlesbrough are prepared for a summer of speculation about star midfielder Hayden Hackney’s departure after failing to make the play-offs.

The 23-year-old Borough academy product was in hot demand this time last season, coming off a successful campaign under Michael Carrick, and newly relegated Ipswich Town agreed to pay him £20 million, only for Hackney to turn down the offer.

Now, Hackney has hit new heights, starring in the midfield for Kim Hellberg, recording a career-high 12 goal contributions in a single term and winning the Championship Player of the Season award for the past campaign.

With his obvious Premier League talent and only one year left on his Middlesbrough contract, the Redcar-born midfielder is destined for a move to the top level this summer.

But perhaps he won’t be, as Borough are apparently willing to keep Hackney for the final year of his contract if they do not receive a £20 million offer from one of the various interested clubs this summer.

Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney stance has split fan opinion.

With Hackney coming through the Rockliffe Park academy, a sale this summer would be pure profit for Borough, as well as an opportunity to reinvest in a variety of positions with youngsters who are physically better suited to Kim Hellberg’s tough play style.

However, given how impressive the 23-year-old was under the Swedish manager until suffering a groyne injury in mid-March, which resulted in a run of two wins in their final eight games, Middlesbrough appear to be open to keeping him for another year.

Understandably, that split the Boro fanbase, as some are dreading the thought of one of their most saleable assets in recent years leaving for free.

“”I think I’d be physically sick if I saw that man go free,” one fan remarked on X.From a fan point of view, I’m not against it, but thinking long term, we might regret it,” said another.

Some argue that the Riverside’s owners should demand more than £20 million, citing the low anticipated price as justification for continuing to gamble.We want more than that, surely,” was among the discourse on X, as well as “£30 million plus in this market, accept nothing less.”

Ultimately, with just a year left on his deal, Boro would find it hard to get more than £20 million for Hackney, no matter his quality.

Middlesbrough may use the report as a bargaining tool to secure high-value offers for their homegrown midfielder this summer, preventing them from receiving lowball offers for someone who could leave for free next year.Good negotiating tactic — but I suspect that’s all it is,” were among the replies. “”Sounds like a bargaining stance rather than something we’d actually do, unless we get purely lowball offers of under £10 million,” another remarked.

Middlesbrough’s transfer strategy is a huge gamble, but it could pay off.

If Middlesbrough decides to keep Hackney for the coming season, Borough will most likely be unable to sell him for free next summer.

However, if they keep him, they will have, statistically, the greatest player in the division over the last 12 months on their roster, who is only going to improve owing to his age and the entire pre-season that he will have under Kim Hellberg.

That will not guarantee them a promotion, but it will give them a decent chance of outperforming themselves this season, which is the ultimate goal. If Middlesbrough are promoted, they will receive much more than £20 million.

And, if Borough are promoted to the Premier League, Hackney may choose to extend his contract at the Riverside, depending on if the divisional level of his current club is the only reason why the 23-year-old may leave this summer.

It’d be a massive risk, but one that could pay off tenfold if they were to get promoted next season.