Isaac Hayden has expressed his desire to see Newcastle United make progress next season, suggesting that the club should be focusing on finishing in the top half on regular basis.
The 24-year-old has been linked with a summer move away from St James’ Park, with the Chronicle reporting earlier this month that Hayden wants to leave the club to be closer to his family in London.
However, his desire to leave the club in the summer has not stopped Hayden hoping that Newcastle can make progress, with the club securing their top flight status for the second successive season in recent weeks.
“A club of this stature, the target shouldn’t be just to finish above the relegation zone but at the minute that is where we’re at,” Hayden said, as quoted by Chronicle.
The midfielder added: “From a lot of the players we don’t just want to be fighting to beat relegation every season, we want to be as high as possible and getting up towards that top six or top eight positions in the league.”
OPINION
This summer is going to be very crucial for the club’s potential future, with Rafa Benitez still yet to declare whether he will remain Newcastle United’s manager next season. Isaac Hayden’s comments reflect what Benitez, the rest of the Newcastle squad and fans want to see happen at the club during the summer. However, it is unclear at this stage whether Newcastle’s board are going to deliver the transfer budget and resources needed to help take the club to the next level, after surviving in the Premier League for successive seasons. The January addition of record signing Miguel Almiron will have given everyone at St James’ Park a lift and hope that maybe more money will be available for Benitez to make more signings of that caliber in the summer. It is going to be vital for Newcastle’s board to show more ambition in the transfer market this summer if they are going to keep hold of their key assets. Newcastle supporters will be hoping that the club’s board pay attention to Hayden’s comments and act to make sure the club our able to compete for more than just survival next term.