Leeds United are expected to have a busy summer window.
Leeds United’s lack of a consistent central midfield partnership has perhaps been one of their shortcomings this season, as the Whites have failed to reach pre-season expectations of a top-six finish.
The Whites have changed their manager while a number of Victor Orta’s signings have failed to hit the mark, such as Vurnon Anita, Felix Wiedwald, Pawel Cibicki and Jay-Roy Grot.
But it is in central midfield where both Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom have continued to chop and change, with Ronaldo Vieira, Adam Forshaw, Eunan O’Kane and Kalvin Phillips going in and out of form.
It has seen partnerships between the quartet tried and tried again, but to no avail. Leeds need a dominant central midfield presence that can take the position by the scruff of the neck and push the Yorkshire giants closer to the top six.
Heckingbottom should draw up a shortlist of midfielders he believes can take Leeds to the next level, and at the top of that shortlist should be Newcastle United ace Isaac Hayden.
Hayden, 23, has dropped down the pecking order at St. James’ Park towards the second half of the Premier League season, remaining an unused substitute in the Toon’s last three league games.
The improved form of Mo Diame has seen the African star shine alongside Jonjo Shelvey, leaving Hayden to feed off scraps. He has started just one league game in 2018.
But with Championship promotion experience under his belt, the tough-tackling former Arsenal star would be the perfect solution to Leeds’ midfield dilemma.
Though Hayden has three years left on a contract the Daily Star claim is worth £10,000 a week, he would be the ideal summer signing to push Leeds into contention for promotion next season.
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