West Ham United and Crystal Palace are monitoring Isaac Hayden’s situation at Newcastle with his long-term future still uncertain, according to the Chronicle.
Hayden has entered into the final year of his current deal at St. James’ Park and despite holding ongoing talks over new terms, he is yet to put pen to paper and commit his future to the Toon.
The 25-year-old has previously been linked with moves away from the North East for personal reasons but remained at the club for the 2019/20 season, despite entering last summer believing he had played his final game in Black and White amid plans to move to the South West to be closer to his family.
Hayden’s daughter needing frequent medical attention meant he was travelling back and forth to be with his family, making a transfer the more convenient solution.
The Chronicle note Magpies boss Steve Bruce has been flexible with Hayden over the past year on travel needs for personal reasons.
But it has failed to aid the club’s efforts in retaining Hayden beyond his current terms, and he is now believed to be working with a new agent in the hopes of securing the next step of his career.
Will Salthouse, who’s Unique Sports Management also works with Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon and Chelsea’s Reece James among others, is now understood to be aiding Hayden with his decision making.
The situation is said to have piqued the interest of West Ham and Crystal Palace, who will continue monitoring the situation in view of a potential transfer.
Should we sell Hayden this summer if he refuses a new contract?
Yes
No
West Ham were thought to have been keen on Hayden last summer as they sought to improve then-manager Manuel Pellegrini’s midfield, with the 6 ft 1 ace considered as an alternative to Andre Gomes once the Portuguese completed a permanent move to Everton.
At the time, it was alleged Toon chiefs valued Hayden at £15million, a figure that would come kind to any Premier League side wanting a top-flight midfielder on the cheap this year amid any financial struggles post-Covid.
Hayden was one of the lowest earners in the first-team at St. James’ Park last season, with the Arsenal product’s current deal only thought to be worth £22,000-per-week – far from the £70k-p/w deal of Jonjo Shelvey.
He would certainly stand to land a sizable pay rise whenever he agrees a new contract, be it with us or elsewhere, having enjoyed 26 starts of 29 appearances in the top-flight in 2019/20, in which he created five big chances to score, earned two assists, scored once and averaged 1.9 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 1.1 clearances, 21.8 accurate passes and 5.2 duels won (3.6 ground, 1.7 aerial) a game, per SofaScore.