Massive Everton and Middlesbrough swap transfer deal could see leading light in Championship make Toffees move

Everton approached the 2025/26 season with optimism and have been proven right thus far, as the Toffees have left behind their years of relegation uncertainty and taken up a well-earnt place in the top half of the Premier League table.

In ninth place and just two points behind arch-rivals Liverpool, David Moyes’ side were ahead of their city neighbours for a time recently after the Reds lost six league matches in seven and shot down the standings.

Moyes has inspired a massive return to form for the side from the Blue half of Merseyside since his return in January of this year. While the Scotsman has played down talk of a push for Europe and said his side “are not quite ready”, a strong January could yet push them that extra mile to compete for a spot in England’s increasing list of European representatives.

Everton have seen a potentially decisive transfer link appear in recent days and may be forced to go above and beyond in order to secure a deal.

Everton linked with Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney

According to reports by TEAMtalk, Everton are ‘interested’ in Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney and could push to secure a January deal for the 23-year-old former England Under-21 international, in whom they were previously cited to hold a long-term interest.

Hackney has played a starring role for Boro as they push for promotion from the Championship, registering three goals and six assists for Kim Hellberg’s side, who have maintained their spot in second place despite losing former head coach Rob Edwards to Wolves last month.

The Boro No.7 has been at his boyhood club since the age of nine, having been born just seven miles east of Middlesbrough in Redcar and starting out at his hometown’s tenth-tier local club. He is reportedly changing agents in January, which is often an indicator that a player is preparing for a big move in the future.

His strong affiliation with Boro in mind, though, it would be difficult to convince either club or player to sanction a mid-season move with promotion tantalisingly close for the Teesside outfit. Everton may, therefore, need to consider a more creative way to secure the signing of the U21 Euro winner.

Everton could offer Tyler Dibling as part of deal for Hackney

Everton will know that convincing Middlesbrough to sell arguably their best player mid-way through a promotion challenge would be a massive ask. They may, therefore, offer an extra incentive to the Riverside outfit to part ways with their prize asset.

The Toffees signed 19-year-old former Southampton talent Tyler Dibling in a £40million deal from the Saints in August, but the teenage wide man has found first-team minutes difficult to come by thus far and spent the majority of the campaign watching on from the bench.

While his move to a club the size of Everton was always going to be a big change, Dibling will have envisioned making a bigger impact on Merseyside than he has so far. A short-term move to Middlesbrough could, therefore, be seen as a solution for all parties.

While Dibling has already featured for two clubs this season – he played a total of seven minutes for Southampton in the Championship in August – and is therefore not eligible to play for a third outfit this campaign, Everton could strike up an understanding with Middlesbrough where they guarantee the North East outfit a loan deal for Dibling for next season, particularly if they earn promotion to the Premier League. Such a deal could even include a permanent buy option if certain thresholds are met.

While this would not be a straight swap by design, offering Boro assurances of the services of Dibling next term could help sweeten the deal as they look to take star man Hackney off their hands in January. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.