Blow to West Brom and Middlesbrough as Newcastle target set for medical at Premier League club

West Bromwich Albion are reportedly set to miss out on a key summer transfer target after Luton Town agreed a deal to take Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden on a season-long loan deal.

The former Arsenal academy star spent the majority of last season on loan at Norwich City but endured an injury-disrupted campaign as he made just 14 appearances as the Canaries failed to bounce back from relegation into the second tier at the first attempt.

After returning to Tyneside at the end of the season, Hayden and Newcastle team-mates Jeff Hendrick and Ryan Fraser were all made available for transfer - but only the latter has made a move elsewhere after Scotland international Fraser joined Southampton on a season-long loan.

Speaking of the trio earlier this month, Magpies manager Howe said: “I think with those players, in particular, it is very difficult for us as a football club because in an ideal world for their careers we’d want them to go and play football and have a good career at another football club.

“But there’s all sorts of difficulties associated with it, contract length, the amount of money they are earning and it is finding a football club that they want to go to as well. They are all great lads. I have no issue with any of them and I wish them well, but let’s see what happens.”

That led to some speculation Albion manager Carlos Corberan was keen to make Hayden his third summer signing after he completed moves for Bordeaux striker Josh Maja and Brighton and Hove Albion attacking midfielder Jeremy Sarmiento.

However, he has been met with disappointment after Football Insider reported Luton have ‘fended off competition’ from West Brom and Championship rivals Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Queens Park Rangers and Millwall by agreeing a season-long loan deal with the Magpies.

A medical is planned to take place on Monday afternoon and it is expected Hayden will become the Hatters eleventh signing of the summer as Rob Edwards looks to strengthen his squad in a bid to remain in the Premier League.