After a decent campaign that saw them finish in the 10th place in the Premier League table, Newcastle United are now desperate to make sure that they can improve on their league finish last time around. Rafa Benitez has been a busy man, trying to add some quality to his first team but a number of his first-team stars are constantly linked with an exit this summer.
The financial restrictions at the club will also need the manager to sell before he can splash the cash in the transfer market, so Rafa seems happy to let unsettled players quit the club this summer. One such player, who has reaffirmed his decision to leave is Isaac Hayden.
The 23-year old came out of the academy at Arsenal in 2013 but moved to Newcastle United in 2016, after failing to make a single league appearance for the senior side at the Emirates. He joined the Magpies after they dropped into the Championship and took no time to establish himself in the first team, playing a major role in Newcastle United winning the Championship title.
He was expected to have a similar impact on the Premier League but Hayden managed just 15 league starts, where he registered a goal and is now unsettled at the club, as he is desperate to reunite with his young family down south, and has been linked with the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion.
The versatile midfielder, who also helped Rafa out in his backline, handed in a transfer request earlier this summer but was a part of Newcastle’s draw against Hull City in a pre-season friendly recently. However, Hayden has now come out and revealed that there is no change in the situation and that he still wants to quit the club this summer.
“I just hope that they can find a solution to help me with my situation. If not, I’m a professional, so I’m going to do my job, but they know my stance. It’s not changed,” he said, in a recent interview. So can Rafa afford to lose him?
The manager still has Jonjo Shelvey and Mohamed Diame in his ranks for the midfield roles. He has lost Mikel Merino to Real Sociedad but has already signed a defensive midfielder in Sung-Yeung Ki on a free transfer. They may have to find a replacement for Hayden if he leaves but he will certainly fetch a decent amount, which should help Rafa in finding a replacement.
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They continue to be linked with the likes of James Morrison, so it shows that Rafa is ready to move on. But do you think losing Isaac Hayden will be a huge blow for Newcastle United?
