David Ornstein: £25m English star now wants to join Everton this summer

Everton have now moved into pole position in the race for an “absolutely sensational” star, David Ornstein has revealed.

Toffees set out to increase squad depth this summer

The Toffees ultimately came up short in their quest to secure European qualification, with a poor run of results towards the end of the season causing them to fall to 13th in the Premier League table, which will no doubt be of great disappointment to David Moyes.

In a message to the fans before the final home game of the season, a 3-1 defeat against Sunderland, CEO Angus Kinnear outlined plans to improve the squad depth in the upcoming transfer window, having been left light at options due to injuries and international obligations.

Kinnear said: “Long-term injuries to Jack Grealish and Jarrad Branthwaite, and the extended AFCON absence of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye have not helped our cause. Our job in the coming weeks and months is to continue with what we always knew would be a two-summer window plan, and ensure the squad has enough depth to mount an even more compelling challenge next term.”

Gueye, who has collected 130 caps for Senegal, is now 36-years-old, and with just one year remaining on his contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, signing a new midfielder is on the agenda in the summer.

Everton leading race for “absolutely sensational” star

David Ornstein has now dropped some exciting Everton transfer news, revealing the Merseyside club are now leading the race for Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney, despite rival interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

Manchester United have also emerged as contenders, but aren’t expected to pursue a deal, and Hackney is currently favouring a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, which suggests the Toffees stand a good chance of getting a move over the line.

Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion have been credited with an interest in the Boro captain too, with the Championship side, who lost the play-off final against Hull City, expected to hold out for a fee of around £25m.

Losing the 23-year-old could be a major blow for Boro, given that he has been lauded as “absolutely sensational” by journalist Scott Wilson, and scooped up the 2025-26 Championship Player of the Season award.

The Englishman created 83 chances in the Championship during the regular season, which was the joint-second highest number in the second tier, behind only Stoke City star Sorba Thomas.

An average of 1.8 tackles ranked the central midfielder joint-third in the Middlesbrough squad, and is the same number averaged by Gueye in the Premier League.

As such Hackney could be a solid long-term replacement for Gueye from a defensive point of view, while he also offers more going forward than the Senegalese midfielder, who created just 13 chances in the top flight.