"I am a big fan" - Portsmouth FC urged to complete Newcastle United transfer deal | OneFootball

Isaac Hayden is reported to be targeted by Portsmouth, which would be a superb signing according to FLW's Pompey fan pundit.

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…

The relegation battle in the Championship is incredibly tight at this moment in time.

Portsmouth really struggled at the start of this season to continue their momentum from last season when they lifted the League One title. As weeks went by, it looked as though Pompey were destined for relegation already, but now that the halfway point of the season is here, the club look in a much better place.

Portsmouth currently sit 21st in the Championship and sit outside the relegation on 'goals scored' having picked up the same number of points (23) as Hull City and Cardiff City, while Plymouth sit rooted to the bottom of the table on 20 points.

John Mousinho has done a fantastic job at Fratton Park over the last couple of years, but this campaign has provided a totally different challenge as he is looking down rather than up on the table.

As long as he can turn some of his side's draws into wins and stay head and shoulders above the bottom three, Pompey fans will be satisfied, but there is a long way to go.

The January transfer window is now here, which provides Mousinho an opportunity to bolster his options and shape his squad up for the second half of the season.

Recent reports have linked him to a certain big name, who could turn out to be a fantastic signing for Portsmouth if it materialises.

Portsmouth have identified Isaac Hayden as a potential new addition this winter

According to journalist Mike McGrath, Portsmouth are in talks with Newcastle over the potential signing of midfielder, Isaac Hayden this winter.

It is unknown whether the deal would be a loan or a permanent move, but nevertheless, Hayden would arrive with the experience and the know-how that Pompey need in the middle of the park. McGrath claimed that other Championship clubs are also interested in the midfielder, but those clubs have not been named.

Hayden has played no football so far this season but remains on the books at Newcastle, so it would make sense for the club to either move him on or loan him out for the second half of the campaign.

The 29-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at QPR where he helped to steady the ship after a dreadful start to the season. A move to Portsmouth would allow him the opportunity to do exactly that for a second time.

Portsmouth fan highlights the excitement over the prospect of signing Isaac Hayden

We spoke to our resident Pompey fan pundit, Miltos Ioannidis, who very much approved of the potential deal to sign the Newcastle midfielder.

"I first heard about this rumour a couple of days ago, but I initially took it with a pinch of salt, as I did not know if anything was going to materialise, but apparently, we are in talks to sign Isaac Hayden, and to be brutally honest, I am a big fan of the idea."

"Isaac Hayden is a Premier League and Championship proven player with bags of experience, and although at the moment the partnership that has been formed in the middle of the park between Freddie Potts and Andre Dozzell has been very solid, you can never say no to healthy competition."

"Apart from Potts and Dozzell, we don't have a player of similar or even better quality in that position. Isaac Hayden can hopefully come in, and a presence like him could really elevate the place. He's still 29 years old, he can technically play a few more years of good football."

"He will obviously know Matt Ritchie from his time at Newcastle. I don't know if anything has been said there at all."

"I am a big supporter of the idea, because I think it's a little bit of a different transfer to perhaps what people would expect us to go after."

"Wages will play a factor in it. If Hayden was to come to us, he'd take a pretty hefty pay cut. Let's see if anything further happens, but I think he would be a good transfer for us, and it's a move that I'm really moved by."