QPR urged to beat Derby County to "perfect" Isaac Hayden free transfer deal | OneFootball

The former R's loanee is now a free agent and is one of the players that QPR are looking at.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Isaac Hayden is a transfer option that Queens Park Rangers are looking at, but they aren't the only ones that are weighing up a move for the former Newcastle United man.

QPR are in a race with Derby County and several other Championship clubs to secure the signature of the free agent, as Football League World exclusively revealed.

The Jamaican international parted ways with Newcastle earlier this month after spending more than nine years with the club. During that time, Hayden was with the R's on a short-term loan deal during the 2023/24 campaign.

He helped the west London outfit to stave off the threat of relegation, playing 17 times in the Championship for the club; 12 of which he started.

QPR urged to seal Isaac Hayden deal ahead of Championship competitors

For FLW's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, this move for Hayden, if the club can pull it off, is a no-brainer. The 30-year-old would add experience and physicality to a squad that currently doesn't have a tonne of it.

"I think if there is an opportunity to re-sign Isaac Hayden, especially this time round on what would be a free transfer, I don't think you could really turn your nose up at that," Louis told FLW.

"I think he's obviously made it well aware how much he enjoyed his time at the club and how much he probably would want to have returned. Obviously this time round he'd be available on a free transfer, and you've got to look back to when he did come in. He did a real job for us in our survival [push].

"You look at our midfield options at the moment, you could argue, well, do we actually need that sort of profile of midfielder? But in terms of experience, I think we still probably lack a bit of experience in midfield.

"Varane has been out injured for a few weeks and that's not been ideal. Then you could argue Hayden would sort of be a bit of a cover backup to Varane. He could even play in certain games when you want to put another midfielder in there.

"I just think Championship experience and know-how is crucial to any side wanting to achieve things and, with the squad we're building, with exciting players that we've already signed, but adding that sort of grit and determination with players like Isaac Hayden, I think that would be just spot on and perfect for what we want to do.

"He did quite well at Pompey last year on loan, but now he's available on a free, I think we've really got to be looking at this seriously and considering re-signing him because it will just fit. It'll fit everything we're looking for.

"It'll add that experience, [he brings] a bit more balance in the midfield as well. And more importantly you've got to look at how well he did for us and how much he enjoyed it at QPR.

"So, yeah, I'd be all over him on a free and hopefully it's true and a deal gets done."

Isaac Hayden's top-flight years would be his best asset for QPR

Hayden is the type of player that QPR haven't tended to recruit in this new, and brief, era with Julien Stephan in charge of things.

A number of their summer additions have been League One players who are on the rise. The Jamaican constitutes someone that is most certainly on his way back down the mountain.

Ascending to those peaks, though, gives him experience that few in Stephan's squad currently have.

It's a quality that really can't be underestimated, especially with the youth that QPR have in their current team.