Newcastle United are reportedly on the verge of sealing a deal worth £28 million to sign Chelsea wonderkid Lewis Hall, who is keen on a move to Tyneside.
According to a report by Daily Telegraph, Newcastle United are close to signing Lewis Hall, with Chelsea accepting a bid worth £28 million from the Magpies for their talented teenage left-back.
This comes after The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Newcastle United are pushing ahead in their pursuit of the Chelsea left-back. The Magpies have had a number of bids for the Chelsea youngster turned down. But another offer was on the table, and the player has been keen to join the club he grew up supporting.
The youngster was expected to be loaned out this summer, with Crystal Palace having been close to agreeing a temporary switch. Chelsea were also initially not open to a permanent sale, having handed him a new long-term contract until 2030 ahead of the proposed loan move to Selhurst Park.
But Chelsea’s enormous transfer outlay in recent days on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia (the move is close) means they will need to once again raise funds through player sales to balance their books, even if it means parting ways with prospects who made a positive impression last season.
The 18-year-old forced his way into the Blues’ first team at Stamford Bridge last season, making his Premier League debut. He would go on to make nine appearances in the top flight and was a bright spot in an otherwise turbulent campaign that saw the Blues finish 12th in the Premier League. However, an exit is looking increasingly likely.
Hall has already shown his versatility despite being in the formative years of his career, capable of playing at full-back and in midfield, which will be appealing to Eddie Howe. The 18-year-old himself is thought to be pushing for a permanent transfer to St. James’ Park, with Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, and Ian Maatsen all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Another thing helping Newcastle’s pursuit is the fact that Hall grew up supporting the Magpies and has family ties to Newcastle. Indeed, he is keen to represent Newcastle United under Howe, with the prospect of playing regularly and in the UEFA Champions League.
Howe has made signing a left-back his priority this summer, with Hall recently emerging as a target. And signing one of the most promising left-backs in English football in Hall would be yet another superb piece of business from the Toon.
Newcastle are crying out for a left-sided full-back that can offer the same attacking capabilities as Kieran Trippier on the opposite flank, with 6ft 7in Dan Burn currently operating there in the makeshift capacity to offer aerial prowess. Hall ticks all of the boxes, will provide a new dimension to the defence, and has the quality to become a lynchpin in this young Newcastle team for years to come.
