Manchester United still see Lewis Hall as their top left-back target after a failed summer move, but Newcastle are already moving to make the chase harder. Hall is 21, has three years left on his deal and Newcastle are preparing talks over fresh terms. They would also reportedly want more than £75m before they even consider a sale.

Newcastle's leverage over Hall

Hall’s early-season form gives Newcastle a simple argument for standing firm. He has only 2 Premier League appearances so far, but his 7.33 rating is the sort of number that makes a club slower to sell a young full-back with room to rise.

The age issue is not as tidy as some reports make out, either. Some outlets have put Hall at 22, while others put him at 21, and the more recent reporting that Newcastle are planning contract talks is attached to the 21-year-old version. Either way, the direction is clear enough: Newcastle do not need to rush.

United's own summer approach showed the gap between interest and action. They made a Deadline Day enquiry for Rayan Ait-Nouri but only wanted a loan move, and City rejected it. That leaves Hall as the more serious target, and also the one Newcastle can price more aggressively.

United's left-back problem is still there

The Hall pursuit is also tied to the state of United's left side. Luke Shaw has only 2 Premier League appearances this season and a 6.65 rating, while Diogo Dalot has already covered left-back in 2 league games, including 19 minutes against Ipswich.

Paul Scholes put that concern in familiar terms, saying: "Do you know one thing that might help Michael? Luke Shaw getting done yesterday [against Ipswich] like he did." He also added: "Look, it’s no surprise, who is shocked? You’ve got the same back-four you’ve had for five years. What’s going to change?"

The market is doing the rest. United are still in the picture, but Newcastle's contract plans and the reported £75m-plus price tag turn Hall into a longer game than a summer fix. United may well revisit it in 2027, though Newcastle's stance suggests they will make that wait costly.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →