Wantaway Newcastle man Hayden would provide extra midfield bite at Palace
Newcastle United midfielder Issac Hayden has put in a transfer request to Rafa Benitez and wants to move back down south, according to the Daily Mirror.
What's the story, then?
The report says that the 23-year-old has spoken face to face with his manager and asked to leave the club, citing exceptional family reasons.
They say the Chelmsford-born midfielder has made it clear that he loves the club and its fans but he needs to come back down to the south of the country.
The club are reportedly hoping to get a deal done for the man valued at just £6.3m by Transfermarkt before the end of the transfer window, which shuts in under four weeks time.
Palace should step in
Hayden's desire to move down south limits the pool of Premier League clubs who have a chance of signing him, making Palace the standout candidate.
Having just lost Yohan Cabaye, Roy Hodgson is surely looking for a central midfielder. Hayden is a more conservative player but that actually fits the Palace style more; switching a deep playmaker for an energetic holding midfielder to go next to Luka Milivojevic makes more sense for a counter-attacking style like Palace's.
Hayden is a more natural holding player than James McArthur or Jairo Reidewald and the opportunity to add a young English talent doesn't come around too often. Hodgson should be very keen.