QPR dealt concerning update on Premier League target once wanted by Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers
It had been expected that QPR would make a summer move for Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden after the 29-year-old enjoyed a successful short loan spell at Loftus Road over the second half of last season.
Hayden made 17 appearances as Marti Cifuentes’ side fought off relegation, bouncing back from what had been a thoroughly underwhelming stint at Standard Liege over the first half of the campaign. The Magpies man added experience to the midfield and had hinted at a desire to return to the club.
He said back in April: “Things move quickly in football and you move on. But it’s a situation where myself and the club will have to sit down in the summer and discuss what they want to do. I had to take a pay cut to go to QPR, which I was happy to do for the last few months of the season, to get games. But it’ll be back to square one in the summer but hopefully I can help keep QPR up and would love to stay here if possible.”
Earlier reports this summer suggested that QPR would not cough up a transfer fee for the player, who is still tied down to a deal on Tyneside until 2026, but it was expected that Newcastle United would strike a mutual agreement with the player to terminate that contract early.
However, The Northern Echo now reports that the Premier League side have made the midfielder ‘available for transfer’ rather than setting him free as a free agent. It adds that QPR ‘would like to sign him permanently’ but ‘cannot afford to match his current earnings with Newcastle’.
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That comes as a blow for Cifuentes and the London club, who have also seen midfield transfer target Ethan Mbappe join LOSC Lille after his release from Paris Saint-Germain. Hayden did have other Championship suitors before moving to QPR in January with Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers both said to have registered interest.
QPR could now turn transfer attention to Sporting de Gijon midfielder Jonathan Varane with the Championship outfit said to be preparing a second bid after seeing a first offer rejected.
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