According to the Chronicle, Brighton have now registered an interest in Isaac Hayden – and they are willing to pay £10m to bring him to the south-coast following news of his transfer request at NUFC.
It was confirmed by the Mirror earlier today that he has handed in a transfer request after face to face talks with Rafa Benitez, with the homesick 23-year-old keen to move back down south for ‘exceptional family reasons’.
Interest in him has emerged already, with the Chronicle now claiming that Chris Hughton is readying a £10m move to bring him to Brighton – meaning the Seagulls are prepared to pay considerably more than the £1m we paid for him just two years ago.
Here’s a snippet from their latest piece on Hayden’s future:
‘Newcastle United’s want-away midfielder Isaac Hayden is wanted by Brighton & Hove Albion after handing in a transfer request.
‘The Seagulls are prepared to pay a fee in the region of around £10m for his services if a deal can be agreed.
‘Rafa Benitez does not want to sell Hayden in a football sense as he rates the England Under-21 international highly.
‘However, he does want to bring in a replacement if Hayden is sold.’
It would be a shame to see a player of his promise leave so soon and in such circumstances, but at least this would see us receive a healthy fee – money which would boost Benitez’s transfer kitty in the final few weeks of the season.
Would you let him leave for Brighton for £10m?
“Exceptional family reasons” doesn’t mean homesickness. Plus he has no known family connection to Brighton. He was born in Chelmsford, lived in Southend at a young age, then moved to North London when he was 13 because he joined the Arsenal Academy.
The chances that the Mirror announced this story at about 10:00 today, and Brighton have got their heads together and bid £10m in that time, seems unlikely.
potski(Quote)