Manchester United are plotting a summer raid for Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, with the Magpies slapping a £50m price tag on the England under 21 in...
Manchester United are plotting a summer raid for Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, with the Magpies slapping a £50m price tag on the England under 21 international. The left back's emergence at St James' Park has been one of the more quietly impressive stories of the season, and it now feels less a question of if a top side will come knocking, but when.Hall has brought a rare blend of composure and aggression to the flank. He can sit in a low block, sure, but it is his willingness to bomb forward in transitional play that really catches the eye. For a United side that has often looked brittle on that left side, especially when asked to stretch a defence, Hall offers something more than mere solidity. He offers a threat. You watch him drive into space, and you see a full back who understands the modern game: defend when you must, but attack when you can.The £50m asking price is steep for a player with just a handful of Premier League starts under his belt, but that is the market now, isn't it Newcastle know what they have. They secured Hall for a fee that could rise to £35m, and they will not let him go cheap. United, with their own financial fair play constraints, will have to be clever. But if they want a young, homegrown talent who can grow into the shirt, Hall fits the profile. The question is whether Erik ten Hag sees him as the answer, or just another name on a long list of targets.For the lad himself, a move to Old Trafford would be a massive step. He has shown he can handle the pressure of a big club at Newcastle, but the scrutiny at United is a different beast. He would need to hit the ground running, no time to settle, no room for easing in. But that is the life of a top level footballer. You either sink or swim, and from what we have seen, Lewis Hall looks like a strong swimmer.
