Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that the club had a January ‘agreement’ with midfielder Isaac Hayden.
The former Arsenal man has made it clear that he wants to leave the Magpies in order to be closer to his family down south, and Benitez acknowledged that there were discussions about his future last month.
“It’s true that he has come back well,” he told The Chronicle. “We were talking to him in January and we had the agreement that we will be looking for a midfielder, trying to find a solution to the problem.
“But, at the same time, he knew that if we couldn’t find someone he had to stay here, and he did really well throughout January. His attitude has been fantastic, he’s been training really well, and I think that now he is enjoying himself because he’s playing. Everything is positive now for him.”
OPINION
It’s been clear for a while that Hayden wants to leave Newcastle, not for footballing reasons but simply because he wants to be closer to his family, which is understandable. However, he acted like a true professional in January and produced some of the finest football of his Magpies career. It would have been nice, had another central midfielder joined the club, for Hayden to be granted his move away, but ultimately it wasn’t meant to be. He is surely in the final furlong of career with the club, though, and it would be a huge shock if he’s still wearing black and white come the start of next season. It does seem like he has a good attitude, as he hasn’t let his personal problems affect his performances on the pitch. He’s knuckled down and made himself a first team regular, which is testament to his professionalism. Hopefully he gets the move he so desires in a few months time.