OPINION
Newcastle United have needed help in central midfield all season, even more so now with Jonjo Shelvey injured and Ki Sung-yueng on international duty.
That’s why the timing of West Bromwich Albion’s interest in Isaac Hayden isn’t exactly opportune for the Magpies. The Express & Star reported on Tuesday that Newcastle had rejected an approach from the Baggies for Hayden because Rafael Benitez wants a replacement before he allows the 23-year-old to leave.
It seems that there could be a very simple solution to this problem: a swap deal whereby West Brom get Hayden and Newcastle get midfielder Jake Livermore.
We saw these teams complete a similar deal to this in the summer with Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle, so why shouldn’t they do it again?
Livermore is everything that Newcastle have been missing in central midfield. He combines the defensive awareness of Mohamed Diame with the passing ability of Jonjo Shelvey and has vast experience in the Premier League.
He is too good to be languishing in the Championship, and it’s a surprise that no one’s snapped him up yet. He’s surely someone that Benitez would love to have in his ranks and is a big upgrade on Hayden.
The Baggies might not be too keen on this, with Livermore being one of their most important players so far this season. However, if Newcastle throw in some cash as well as Hayden then that could be enough to make West Brom play ball.
Hayden wants to leave Newcastle, that much is clear. We also know that West Brom want the former Arsenal man, and that Benitez needs to have a replacement sorted before he sanctions Hayden’s sale.
Why not tie these three things together and have Livermore and Hayden simply trade places? It would be a deal that works for everyone.
If the Magpies can, once again, complete a swap deal of sorts with West Brom then they will find themselves with an instant upgrade in central midfield.
