Exclusive: QPR and Derby County plotting move for ex-Newcastle United player | OneFootball

Isaac Hayden - now a free agent after his Magpies exit - is wanted by Championship clubs

Derby County and Queens Park Rangers are among a number of clubs eyeing up a move for free agent midfielder Isaac Hayden, sources have exclusively informed Football League World.

There are just two-and-a-half weeks left of the summer transfer window, but players who are not currently contracted to clubs can be signed and registered beyond that date, should EFL clubs have squad spaces open.

However, one player in particular is wanted by a number of Championship clubs before the window slams shut, and he's familiar to QPR, having spent time on loan at Loftus Road.

QPR interested in Isaac Hayden transfer reunion

FLW has been told that Isaac Hayden is a target for a number of clubs, with QPR and Derby County being two of them.

The 30-year-old's time at Newcastle United came to an end nearly two weeks ago after nine long years, having signed for the Magpies from Arsenal in 2016 on an initial five-year deal.

Hayden played 171 times for Newcastle in his time on Tyneside, but he spent much of his time out on loan in the final few years there, before his contract was mutually terminated nearly two weeks ago with less than a year to run on his deal.

Norwich City, Standard Liege and Portsmouth all had Hayden temporarily at different periods, but he also took in a stint at QPR in the second half of the 2023-24 season, playing 17 times for the Hoops under Marti Cifuentes.

Now under new management in Julien Stephan, the R's are interested in taking Hayden back on a permanent basis under his new free agent status in a bid to bolster their midfield options, with their engine room containing the likes of Sam Field, Kieran Morgan, Jonathan Varane and Nicolai Madsen, but they have competition from a divisional rival.

Derby County also keen on ex-Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden

Hayden could potentially add an eighth club to his résumé this summer if he doesn't rejoin QPR, with FLW revealing that are Derby are also interested in the Jamaica international.

The Rams have had a bid rejected for Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis, with FLW exclusively breaking John Eustace's interest in re-uniting with the midfielder back in June, but they also have Hayden on their radar - potentially as an alternative if they cannot agree a fee with their Championship rival.

Hayden will be looking for a fresh start somewhere in order to keep his chances of playing regularly for Jamaica alive since his 2024 debut, and he could be seen back in the second tier of English football once more.