Bristol City should sign Isaac Hayden to boost their creative department
As per a report from Bristol Live, EFL Championship side Bristol City remain interested in securing the services of Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden in the January transfer window.
Lee Johnson’s side was keen on signing the 23-year-old in the summer after the midfielder had handed in a transfer request but the Magpies refused to sell him. However, the Robins are set to rekindle their interest in him and launch a fresh attempt to land him in the winter window. (h/t Bristol Live)
The 23-year-old Hayden, a graduate of the Arsenal academy, left the Gunners to join Newcastle in the summer of 2016 after a loan spell with Hull City, having failed to break into the first-team. In his debut season with the Tynesiders, the former England U21 international played a key role in helping Rafael Benitez’s side to the EFL Championship title and, in turn, helped them seal promotion back to the Premier League.
However, since the Magpies’ return to the English top-flight, Hayden has found his involvement diminished. In the 2017/18 season, out of the former Arsenal man’s 29 appearances in all competitions, only 15 were starts in Premier League.
Things have worsened further this time out for the Englishman. Having been sent off in the second league game of the season against Cardiff City, Hayden has just appeared just twice more since for Benitez’s side. The midfielder spent close to two months out of the team after his second game of the campaign in September, before returning to the fold last weekend in the victory over Bournemouth.
Given his situation, an exit in January does seem a strong possibility and Bristol City should definitely pounce on the opportunity. The Robins currently sit 13th in the Championship standings, having accrued 22 points from their 17 games so far.
Lee Johnson’s side has been left a bit lightweight in the middle of the park, following the serious knee injury to mainstay Korey Smith early in the campaign. Since the 27-year-old underwent a surgery, he is expected to be on the sidelines for a prolonged period.
While Josh Brownhill has done fairly well alongside Marlon Pack in the centre of the pitch, there is precious little cover with the young and inexperienced Liam Walsh and Jens Hegeler. And hence, adding a new central midfielder to the pack in January wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Robins.
In Hayden, they will be getting a player who knows the league well, having essayed an important role in Newcastle’s promotion campaign. The midfielder would bring in steeliness and solidity in the middle of the park for Bristol City, allowing the creative-minded players around him to flourish. And at 23 years of age, the Englishman should only get better from hereon.
Hayden might not have played a lot this season but a change of scenery would do him a world of good. And his addition to the ranks at Ashton Gate has the potential to benefit Bristol City immediately as well as in the longer run.
