Nottingham Forest have "taken an interest" in Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
The 20-year-old broke into the Boro first team this season, making 36 appearances in the Championship as Michael Carrick's team reached the play-offs.
Arsenal and Liverpool have scouted the youngster, with Newcastle United and Leicester City also said to be keen. There are likely to be other suitors and there could be a large transfer battle for his signature in the coming months.
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A Scotland under-21 international but England are keen to tempt him to return to the Three Lions youth setup, having played for them at under-15 level. He is expected to be named in the next England under-21s squad.
Hackney became a regular in midfield this season after impressing Carrick, which in itself is the highest praise for a young central midfielder. He signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract on Teesside in December, committing his future to the club whose academy he rose through.
With Boro being knocked out of the play-offs by Coventry, they are more likely to cash in on their young midfielder amid Premier League interest. The chance to work with such a highly-regarded head coach as Steve Cooper could be difficult for the young player to turn down.
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