Isaac Hayden celebrates after scoring a goal (Getty Images)
According to reports from Chronicle Live, Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden, with reports claiming that the Lions might make a move for the 24-year-old should they manage to secure promotion to the Premier League.
Chronicle Live understands that Villa are not the only club who are in pursuit of the former Arsenal academy product, with West Ham and Brighton and Hove Albion also in the race to sign the central midfielder.
Hayden handed in a transfer request last summer in order to relocate and stay closer to his family in the south-west but manager Rafael Benitez put that on hold due to lack of cover in his midfield options. (h/t Chronicle Live)
However, the 24-year-old’s exit from Newcastle looks inevitable this time around and his imminent availability has put some of the Premier League clubs on red alert, the Chronicle understands. The Magpies, though, are unlikely to let him depart on the cheap given that he has a contract at Tyneside until the summer of 2021.
Hayden was one of the standout performers for Newcastle in the Premier League this past season, as the 24-year-old established himself as one of the first names on Benitez’s teamsheet.
He contributed with a goal and 4 assists in 24 league outings from a deep position in the middle of the park and earned plenty of plaudits for his tough-tackling nature and work-ethics, which is exactly why he is likely to have plenty of suitors this summer.
Essentially a defensive midfielder by trade, Hayden is capable of playing both holding and box-to-box roles in the middle of the park, owing to his high levels of stamina and uncompromised work-rate.
He covers every blade of grass on the pitch and is capable of shouldering both attacking and defensive responsibilities with equal effectiveness.
Not only does he hold things together with his ability to break up the play and win possession back with crucial tackles and interceptions, but Hayden also has a keen eye for defence-splitting through balls.
The combative midfield enforcer always looks to set his team on the front foot with clever switches of play, often using his wide range of passing to good effect.
A gritty character with plenty of resilience, Hayden is quick across the ground, strong in the air and has a habit of making late runs into the box to chip in key passes and goals. All in all, he is a very useful midfielder with good well-rounded attributes who can be an asset to any midfield in the Premier League.
To put things into perspective, Aston Villa have every reason to look at Isaac Hyden as a potential transfer target in a bid to add more steel to their midfield, although it is pretty clear that the 24-year-old moving to Villa Park would depend solely on where the Lions play their football next season.
Villa have some quality midfielders in their ranks but neither of them is particularly experienced at the Premier League level. John McGinn and Conor Hourihane have done an excellent job in the Championship this term but they haven’t played in the top-flight before and bringing in someone like Hayden would be a massive boost to the side, both in terms of quality and experience.
Glen Whelan is out on contract in a month’s time and Henri Lansbury is not really a Premier League quality player, meaning that Villa need more depth in the midfield options.
Hayden really came of age for Newcastle this term and the Lions could have a jewel in their crown if the 24-year-old manages to replicate his heroics at Villa Park next season.
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Villa face Derby County in the Championship playoff final at Wembley on Monday.