Issac Hayden’s Newcastle United future could well be in doubt as soon-to-be free agent Boubacar Kamara has been linked with a move in the summer.
Newcastle now find themselves seven points above the dreaded relegation zone, which has put them in a solid place to avoid the drop and therefore be able to spend big in the summer to build the club even more than they did in January.
Who would be better for Newcastle?
Kamara!
Hayden!
If the Magpies manage to avoid the drop, seeing them linked with players such as Kamara could become a more regular occurrence, with The Northern Echo reporting that some members of the board at Newcastle have already held talks with the Frenchman, who will become a free agent in the summer.
Hayden’s time on Tyneside looks to be all but over given that he’s only started two games under Eddie Howe this season and was not included in the manager’s Premier League squad for the second half of the season, although his injury will have been the main reason behind that. However, are these latest reports another sign that he could soon be moving on?
Is Hayden’s career at Newcastle finished?
The former Arsenal midfielder has been an incredible servant for the Magpies, having been a key cog in the midfield that saw them win the Championship and bounce back into the Premier League at the first time of asking in 2017, and has gone on to make 118 Premier League appearances for the club.
Hayden is a classic defensive midfielder, though he has hardly set the league alight when given the chance. Considering that he’s completed just eight dribbles this season in the league, with only nine of his passes going forward 10 or more yards this season, it appears he is rather limited in terms of his ability on the ball – something that may be important for the Magpies moving forward if they are to become a dominant side.
Kamara is just 22 years old as well, which could go massively in his favour when potentially competing against the likes of Hayden for a squad space, while the fact that he’s already made over 100 appearances in the league for Marseille at his tender age shows his maturity and ability, despite his best years still being ahead of him.
However, it will certainly not be an easy signing for Newcastle to make given that a whole host of other European clubs, including Manchester United, are said to be interested in the midfielder, but even if he doesn’t arrive, Hayden’s days appear to be numbered at Newcastle – so this could be a final nail in the coffin.
In other news: Mark Douglas reveals brilliant behind-scenes Howe detail that has insiders talking at NUFC