Preston North End are reportedly interested in signing Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Hayden during the January transfer window.
PNE head into the January window with more questions about the future of boss Ryan Lowe than rumours about potential incomings.
Lowe is on a run of just four wins in 19 games and will be desperate for results soon in order to halt calls for his departure.
North End may look to land some reinforcements this month in order to bolster Lowe’s squad and a new name is now being linked with a move to Deepdale…
PNE reportedly interested in signing Isaac Hayden
The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath now reports that PNE are interested in signing Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Hayden.
McGrath has been a fairly reliable source for PNE news in recent times and was first to report North End’s interest in signing Ben Whiteman from Doncaster Rovers.
McGrath also broke news of PNE’s interest in Jack Whatmough back in June, a deal which ended up going through later in the window.
It’s stated that a number of Championship clubs are keen to take Hayden for the second half of the season.
Newcastle United-owned Hayden is currently on loan in Belgium but may end up back in England soon enough.
Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle are also being named as suitors for Hayden.
Newcastle can take Hayden back to Tyneside in January but another loan move would need to be beneficial to the Magpies, Hayden himself or both.
Hayden has been a regular for Standard this season, starting nine of 14 league games.
The 28-year-old may fancy a return to England himself and he could reunite with former Newcastle teammate Freddie Woodman at Deepdale.
Hayden is an experienced and combative defensive midfield player but suffered injury problems on loan at Norwich City last season.
Ali McCann has recently featured as PNE’s defensive midfielder in a 4-1-4-1 system but it’s fair to say that he has blown hot and cold in that role.
Hayden may be seen as a better fit but Newcastle would surely have to contribute a decent chunk of his wages to facilitate a move to North End this month.