West Ham United transfer target Isaac Hayden is now set to stay with his current club Newcastle United, according to journalist Luke Edwards.
The Daily Telegraph’s north east football correspondent revealed the news on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday, claiming that the 24-year-old will remain at St James’ Park.
The Northern Echo reported earlier this month that the former Arsenal midfielder was angling for a move down south to be closer to his young family, and that the Hammers and Brighton & Hove Albion were the frontrunners for his signature.
However, Edwards has seemingly put an end to speculation that the Englishman could end up at the London Stadium this summer.
OPINION
Well, this is a serious blow to the Hammers, isn’t it? There’s no doubt that Hayden would be a terrific signing for Manuel Pellegrini’s side; indeed, he’s exactly what they need right now. With the Evening Standard reporting on Monday that midfielder Pedro Obiang is on the verge of sealing a move to Italian side Sassuolo, that would leave only Declan Rice and Carlos Sanchez as orthodox defensive midfielders at the London Stadium. Is that really enough? What if Rice goes down injured, are you really going to rely on a 33-year-old who is coming off a major injury to deputise for him for an extended period of time? It doesn’t take a genius to see that that wouldn’t be the best thing for Pellegrini’s team next term. Hayden, though, would have been a tremendous addition alongside Rice in the midfield engine room. Unfortunately for those of a claret and blue persuasion, however, it appears he is now destined to remain on Tyneside.
