Middlesbrough star told to follow in Jude and Jobe Bellingham's footsteps

German giants Borussia Dortmund have been urged to resolve their midfield issues by making a move for Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney.

The Boro academy product has become an integral figure at the club in recent seasons and his form has not gone unnoticed with several Premier League clubs said to be monitoring his progress. Hackney has scored six goals and provided eight assists in 40 appearances in all competitions during the current campaign as Kim Hellberg’s side push for promotion back into the Premier League - and that has only heightened speculation over his future at the Riverside Stadium.

The likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United have both been linked with the 23-year-old and Nottingham Forest were said to have been unsuccessful with a sizeable offer for Hackney during the final days of the January transfer window. Hellberg has always stressed his belief the midfielder could thrive at Premier League level - but one writer has insisted Hackney should be offered the chance to follow in the footsteps of Jude and Jobe Bellingham by making a move to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Columnist Cedric Triebsch wrote in Der Westen: “Hardly any talent is talked about as much in English football right now as Hackney. The 23-year-old, who is about to lead his youth club, FC Middlesbrough, to the first league, is the greatest midfield talent in the English second league. It is often emphasised that there is practically nothing he cannot do.

“Hackney, who plays almost his entire life for Middlesbrough, is a versatile six who is already destined for higher. His abilities impress, his leadership convinces. And that's exactly what could be so interesting for BVB. Because apart from his footballing skills, Hackney, with his 23 years, is one who leads the way and knows what it means to be a leading player. So far only at the level of the second English league - but not least the Bellingham brothers have shown that this jump can be mastered.”

Middlesbrough promotion bid assessed by former Rangers boss

Former Southampton and Rangers manager Russell Martin has delivered his verdict on the Championship promotion race - and it will not please Middlesbrough fans. As it stands ahead of Middlesbrough’s visit to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime, Kim Hellberg’s side are sitting in second place in the table and are now seven points adrift of leaders and title favourites Coventry City. The second automatic spot appears to be a shoot-out between Boro, Millwall and Ipswich Town, with the latter pair facing each other at The Den this weekend. Martin believes Kieran McKenna’s experience of promotion pushes will see Ipswich sneak into second place and clinch an immediate return to the Premier League.

He told BBC 5Live’s Monday Night Club: "Part of me thinks Ipswich will do it because of the experience of Kieran (McKenna) doing it and the players they have. I think Middlesbrough are fantastic. I’ve enjoyed watching them, probably, more than anyone in the Championship this year. When we were in the Championship with Norwich the second time, after we got relegated, because we had so many players who had done it before, we almost felt like we'll do it, we know what it takes. The other teams, they’ll start feeling it a bit more."

Your next Middlesbrough read: What Middlesbrough, Coventry and Ipswich bosses are saying about the promotion race