Former Arsenal midfielder’s transfer ‘collapses’ after Newcastle United exit reached medical stage

Isaac Hayden’s season-long loan move to Luton Town has reportedly fallen through.

The forgotten Newcastle United midfielder travelled south to undergo his medical on Monday and a move was expected to be announced in due course. However, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, the deal has collapsed.

The 28-year-old returned to Tyneside earlier in the summer after spending last season on loan at Norwich City. The Canaries were obliged to make his stay permanent if they sealed an immediate Premier League return but finished 13th, seven points outside the play-offs.

Hayden, along with Jeff Hendrick and Ryan Fraser - who on Friday joined Southampton on loan - have been training away from Eddie Howe’s first-team.

“I think I had those conversations with those players last year, where they trained separately from the group,” Howe said previously. “That was only so I could control the numbers that I was working with and maintain the focus of the players that were going to be part of our season.

“I don’t anticipate that changing, to be honest. Those lads have done very well, and they’ve been great lads and servants to the football club over many seasons. We certainly respect them, but sometimes you have to make a clear break and focus on the players that are going to be part of our season next year.”

Hayden was recruited by Rafa Benitez in 2016 and in his first season helped United win the Championship title. In total, Hayden has made 171 appearances for the club, though last featured in December 2021 after being left out of the 25-man squad for the second half of the 2021-22 campaign.