West Ham United have been linked with a move for wantaway Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden – but it may cost them around £20 million, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Hayden wants to leave St James’ Park this summer in order to return south but he has been one of the star performers this season for the Magpies and the Toon hierarchy are determined to hold out for a large fee.
The 24-year-old wanted to leave Newcastle last August when he and his partner had a child and they both wanted to move to south in order to be with their families but Toon boss Rafa Benitez would not leave the midfielder leave until a replacement was found.
A move away failed to materialise with Brighton & Hove Albion rumoured to have made a bid and Hayden found himself in and out of the team with Jonjo Shelvy, Ki Sung-Yong and Mo Diame being ahead of him in the pecking order.
Being shown a red card in the draw with Cardiff City in the second game of the season did not help his cause but the London-born player has been ever-present in the Newcastle side since the Boxing Day defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
With injuries taking their toll on Benitez’s squad, Hayden seized his chance and has been one the better performers in a black and white shirt in the second half of the campaign.
Newcastle paid Arsenal just £2.6m in 2016 to take the midfielder to the North East and should make a tidy profit as the Magpies are holding out for offers between £15 and £20 million.
The Telegraph claims West Ham are interested and Brighton are prepared to make another bid while Championship winners Norwich City could also make an offer.
It appears it will be Hayden’s last game for Newcastle when they visit already relegated Fulham on Sunday at Craven Cottage as the former England Under-21 international is determined to push a move through despite the Toon fans urging him to stay following the loss to Liverpool at St James’ Park last Saturday.
