OPINION
With Claudio Yacob and Grzegorz Krychowiak having left the club this summer, West Bromwich Albion should target Newcastle’s Isaac Hayden, who has reportedly handed in a transfer request.
The defensive midfield position is a vital role in any football team, especially when a team expects to attack as they’re playing against lower-quality teams.
West Brom are going to be on the attack in the upcoming Championship season, and boss Darren Moore will be trying to win every game to ensure that the club return to the Premier League at the first attempt. That mean’s taking chances in defence and that means, the defensive midfielder has a big job on his hands.
Unfortunately, The Baggies don’t actually have a defensive midfielder at the moment. Argentine midfielder Yacob was released and Krychowiak has returned to Paris Saint Germain after his loan spell. Moore’s side needs someone who can sit in front of the back four, intercept attacking moves and break up counter-attacks. That’s why Isaac Hayden must be signed.
As reported by Chronicle Live, Hayden is looking to leave Newcastle United to be closer to his family in the south, which means Albion should be going all out for the Englishman’s signature.
Sky Sports reported that he handed in a transfer request on Saturday.
When The Magpies won promotion from the second-tier in 2016/17, the 23-year-old played a massive part in the team. He did exactly the job he needed to. The former Arsenal man won the ball back from opposition attackers and quickly distributed the ball to his teammates, always showing as a passing option and keeping the ball with simple passes.
It’s a vital, sometimes overlooked role in an attacking team, but it is absolutely necessary to have someone helping the defence while everyone else is attacking, which is why he was so important to their promotion a few seasons back.
West Brom needs Hayden to do the same job for them this season and that’s why they must secure his signing this summer.