Arsenal look close to finalising a move to send young defensive midfielder Isaac Hayden out on loan to Hull City this summer, according to The Guardian.
The 20-year-old, who is an England youth international, has played some part for the Gunners in pre-season, but is still some way from making a first-team breakthrough at the Emirates Stadium.
Still, manager Arsene Wenger is said to rate Hayden highly, and hopes that a loan spell in the Championship with Steve Bruce’s side can play a major role in his development, perhaps paving way for a first-team place in the future.
Hayden can play in defence or in midfield, but faces plenty of competition in those areas at the moment, with Francis Coquelin, Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere likely to be competing for that deep-lying midfield role this season, while Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel and Calum Chambers should be the main options at centre-back.
SEE ALSO:
Man United spending to reach £143.5m with THREE more signings, including Chelsea & Liverpool targets
Arsenal get green light to seal signing of £49m duo, including player who snubbed Liverpool
Arsenal transfer news
Arsenal have a fine record of developing talented young players, but it has perhaps become harder for prospects to break into the senior side in recent years, with Wenger starting to change his transfer policy slightly by bringing in more established names.
Although this has been a quiet summer for the north London giants, they have raided rivals Chelsea for the signing of goalkeeper Petr Cech, which follows big-name deals for the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck last summer.