CEO ‘very happy’ to sign Newcastle ace and says he’s exactly what he needed

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Standard Liege CEO Pierre Locht is delighted by the addition of Isaac Hayden on loan from Premier League giants Newcastle United.

On the final day of the Jupiler League transfer window, the Standard Liege chief set his sights on adding some experience and top-level nous to a rather callow squad. And, by the time the deadline passed last midweek, Pierre Locht could be forgiven for patting himself on the back and toasting a job well done.

Moussa Djenepo returns to the club where he played the best football of his career before that £15 million move to Southampton in 2019. Steven Alzate is also back from Brighton after a fine spell on loan in 2022/23.

Isaac Hayden, meanwhile, arrives following nearly ten years at a Newcastle United side he joined in the Championship and leaves in the Champions League.

Isaac Hayden swaps Newcastle United for Belgium

“The last days of the transfer window were quite hectic. But we are satisfied,” Locht tells RTBF.

“The objective was to bring experience into this squad which was lacking a little. We managed to do what we wanted to do. The objective was to make the team more competitive, to ensure that these players could immediately bring added value to the team.”

“We have a fairly young team with a lot of new players. We tried to remedy that, with players like Isaac Hayden who has a lot of experience and can bring the physical impact in the midfield. With Moussa Djenepo who knows the club well.”

Hayden may have played his last Magpies game

Hayden fell out of favour under Eddie Howe. The big-money high-profile acquisitions of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes making a man who was once one of the first names on Steve Bruce’s team sheet feel like an analogue part in an increasingly digital machine at St James’ Park.

Hayden still has three years left on his Newcastle contract. It is unlikely the Magpies will stand in his way, however, should Standard look to sign the 29-year-old on a permanent basis somewhere down the line.

“We are happy with the new recruits,” Locht adds. “In theory, it is very good. We must now succeed in turning (our success in the window) it into victories (on the pitch).”