Albion could capitalise on Isaac Hayden's urgent desire to return south from Newcastle.

The versatile midfielder has been of interest to the Seagulls for a while and he has brought matters to a head by asking for a move.

Hayden, under contract to the Toon until 2021, is understood to have handed in a transfer request on Friday during a meeting with boss Rafa Benitez at Newcastle's Republic of Ireland training camp.

Benitez had stubbornly resisted beforehand but Chelmsford-born Hayden's wish to be reunited with his wife and children, who are back in the south, could mean the 23-year-old is now available for around £10 million.

Albion have a cluster-based recruitment strategy, identifying targets of similar calibre.

Hayden has been on their interested list together with Yves Bissouma, the 21-year-old Mali international midfielder they hope to sign from French club Lille for around £14 million.

Hayden, formerly with Arsenal, is an attractive option, as he would add both versatility to the squad and to the home-grown quota requirements. He can play at right-back and in the centre of defence and started 15 games under Benitez in the Premier League last season.

Brazilian Bernardo, meanwhile, made his debut not in his favoured position but at right-back in the first half of the 1-1 friendly draw against St Gallen in Switzerland.

Manager Chris Hughton said: "We know Bernardo is a left-back who can play at right-back. It took him a little while to get into the rhythm of things, which it will do. He's a young player that has played in a system (at Red Bull Leipzig).

"He has come through 45 minutes and done all of the training. He will get to a level that we want. It's a different league. He's got to get used to the intensity."

Hugo Keto, the 20-year-old Finnish goalkeeper signed from Arsenal last week for the under-23s, came on in the second half for Wigan-bound Christian Walton after joining the training camp in Austria.

Hughton said: "Hugo did well and he had a good week."