Don't remember much of him from last season, but is Newcastle's second highest rated starter on whoscored behind Schar. Not an area we're in desperate need of strengthening, but he seems determined to leave and move back to the London area this summer. From looking at his highlights and stats he appears pretty similar in style to Capoue - tough tackling, but also with some finesse. He's at a very good age as well at 24, so it seems we could get a very good future replacement at the kind of knock-down price deal the Pozzos are so keen on.
They have a fine history stretching back to the days of Teletext of getting everything absolutely spot on.
It's 100% true that Hayden is determined to leave Newcastle and move back to the London area this summer, he even handed in a transfer request the previous summer. He's stated it publicly and it's been widely reported already, because he has been travelling down to London in all his spare time last season to see his wife and newborn child, who still live there, as his kid requires regular hospital treatment: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/spor...newcastle-united-as-he-waits-on-a-move-409529 Given that, it doesn't leave many potential destinations. We would certainly make a lot of sense. The question would then be the fee. Perhaps we could include Cleverley in a deal to knock a few £mil off the price and free up a squad place.
Got West Ham written all over him. Can only see us signing CM’s if any leave. Will depend on Gracia’s thoughts on Chalobah and Cleverley in reality - but if either of those are close to full fitness/form, I wouldn’t bother with this. We have other priorities that need addressing and if funds are sparse, we shouldn’t be thinking of dropping £15m on another CM. Also that report states with interest in Doucoure set to increase - as far as I can tell, it’s all actually rather quiet on that front.
It certainly can't decrease at the moment! Not heard anything in ages. Looks reasonably happy at pre season training
I guess we wouldn't know though. He might be looking happy as Gino has told him he can go and a deal is 95% done.
His name isn't silly enough to match all our other transfer rumours and for that reason I can confirm it's a 100% done deal.
Don't need him at all, plays in our strongest overall position, and £15m is far from a bargain price; particularly when he's desperate to move to the point of giving (very eloquent and interesting) articles to the Guardian about it. Good luck to him but no, thank you.
I can’t agree that this is our strongest position. We have a great regular duo, but we got very little from Cleverley or Chalobah last season. I hope this will be different and they have both recovered, but this is not a sure thing. Quina is not ready for week in week out as one of a duo in the middle nor is Wilmot. This means that an injury to either first choice player is potentially a crisis.
West Ham currently have as central midfielders: Noble, Rice, Snodgrass, Obiang, Wilshere, Carlos Sanchez and their new signing Fornals (though he's more the central point of a midfield 3) - they're pretty stacked in that position. As for Doucoure, it does seem pleasingly quiet on that front. I'd still like to take a player such as Hayden though even if Doucoure stays, as Capoue is 31 in a week and can't be expected to single-handedly dominate the midfield every match for too much longer.
£15mil is Newcastle's supposed desired price. In this market it's still good value for an English, proven comfortably mid-table-quality central midfielder only just coming in to their prime (even if the price might even end up being lower).
Well - other than Hayden being less good than what we have, for me it comes down to how do we spread the tfr budget - if it self funds because we sell in the same area of the park then maybe, but if not then i would not deploy a penny of the budget on midfield - the issues we have are elsewhere
I agree that it should by no means be a priority if it means we can't strengthen in the more urgent areas, especially another winger and striker, and maybe another CB. However, although he'd come initially as third choice, there's no reason why he couldn't necessarily become as good for us as Capoue has been after a season. Newcastle fans appear to have been very complimentary of him last season, saying he'd been one of their best few players (including being been better for them than Diame and Ki in the same position).
Was talking about this one to my Geordie mate he reckons in no way is Hayden a 15million pounds player,and would be delighted to offload at that price , it's Longstaff, Ki and Mutu who he wants to retain. On that basis I think we should avoid.
He’s a decent player. But if Chalobah can return to fitness after a full pre-season, I’d still say he’s a better player and would rather he’s seen as next in line. Big ‘if’ though granted.
Chicharito leaving? Get him in! The most intelligent footballer I've heard speaking. Could play the Palmer role(s).
Yeah, but we got very little from them because one way or another they were both injured/working their way back from long term injury for the majority of the season. There's no reason why we should expect the situation to be the same again with them this season, as it stands. Chalobah will/should be looking to overtake one of our starting pair, not competing with a further player brought in who may be theoretically ahead of him, and we know he has/had the ability. Plus, in terms of Quina, it's fair yes that I wouldn't want him shouldering the burden of 90 minutes week in, week out all season, but whenever he has played for the senior team he has never looked particularly out of place or overawed by his opponents. I think he could well do a decent job stepping up in the event of an injury, and it would be great for ihs development.
All the signs are promising with Quina and fingers crossed for Chalobah to back to his best. Agree that another midfielder is not the priority.
Or Bournemouth. Price is right in their sweet spot, will likely offer £100k/wk to the player because that’s pretty much what they do and they actually do need this sort of player. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bournemouth is still at least 3 hours from north London - Hayden is leaving Newcastle because he doesn't want a big regular commute any more and I suspect that would be too far for him. At a stretch maybe Villa would be the only other feasible club within an acceptable distance for him, though it's also not an area which I suspect would be a priority for them.