'Would love' - Newcastle United midfielder set for summer transfer ahead of sit-down talks

Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden admits he would love to remain at Queens Park Rangers next season having enjoyed a successful loan spell so far.

The former Arsenal man spent the first-half of the campaign at Belgian side Standard Liege before being recalled by Newcastle in January to allow him to join the Championship outfit.

Hayden has suffered badly with a knee injury in recent years which ruined his loan at Norwich City, but he appears to be back on track with QPR having featured in all 11 games since arriving.

With the West London outfit edging closer to securing their Championship status, Hayden is beginning to look to the summer and has expressed his interest in staying put at Loftus Road.

“It's a situation where myself and the club [Newcastle] will have to sit down in the summer and discuss what they want to do,” Hayden, who is under contract at Newcastle until 2026, told The Sun.

“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.”

The 29-year-old moved to Tyneside when he signed by Rafa Benitez in 2016 and in his first season helped Newcastle win the Championship title. He's has made 171 appearances for United, his last coming in December 2021.

 “Eddie’s very intense,” said Hayden. If you don't come in to work or training 100 percent switched on, then ready to put in 110 percent, you'll get found wanting with him. He’s honest and fair. He’ll tell you what he thinks, whether you like it or not.

“I played a few games for him before I got injured but then things change. There are no hard feelings. I told him, ‘It’s a shame I didn’t get a chance to work with you for a couple of years before because I’d have developed a lot more.

“He’d stimulate you mentally and before my injury he had me in my best-ever physical shape.”