Newcastle United face major transfer decision as club record deal agreed

Newcastle United are preparing to make Lewis Hall’s loan move from Chelsea permanent at the end of the season for £28 million.
Newcastle United’s summer transfer window issues have already started.

The club has already essentially secured its first summer acquisition, agreeing to pay Chelsea £28 million to sign 19-year-old Lewis Hall after his season-long loan with the club expired. It will be a club record amount paid by the club for a teenager, surpassing the previous mark of £8.5 million paid for Hugo Viana from Sporting CP before Hall was born.

Lack of first-team action for Newcastle United

Hall’s stint on loan has seen him fall out of favor, particularly evident as The Magpies approach the final stretch of the Premier League season. Despite Newcastle grappling with injuries, Hall has only started once in the league and has accumulated a mere 268 minutes of playtime, often being substituted at halftime in three out of four starts across all competitions. This stands in stark contrast to younger players like Lewis Miley and Joe White, whom coach Eddie Howe has expressed trust in due to their performances in training.

However, Hall seems to lack that same level of confidence from Howe, as evidenced by his consistent presence on the bench without being utilized in Newcastle’s last eight matches. His last appearance dates back almost two months, and even older players like 34-year-old Matt Ritchie have seen more action in similar positions this season. Moreover, Hall’s situation might worsen with the imminent return of Matt Targett from injury, potentially pushing him further down the selection hierarchy. Targett’s possible inclusion on the bench for the upcoming match against Chelsea means Hall, due to loan terms, will be ineligible to participate and will consequently be dropped from the squad.

Adapting to a new role

While Hall drew Newcastle’s notice as a left-back for Chelsea last season, he has previously played farther forward and in a more central position at junior level.

And the team is still working with the player to enhance his defensive game.

“Lewis is a really talented player,” Howe acknowledged. “He has tremendous technical abilities. He is innovative and has excellent final delivery. He’s an excellent attacking full-back. He has to learn defense skills, which we are working on with him.

“But he’s young and has recently switched to left-back. There needs to be some understanding that he may take some time to develop the defensive solidity that we’re looking for, but he’s a player with so much potential.”

Hall made his first start for Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, playing on the left wing until being substituted at halftime. The only time the teenager has played more than 45 minutes for Newcastle is in a 3-0 Carabao Cup triumph over Manchester United, in which he scored.

Newcastle’s £28m obligation to buy clause from Chelsea

 

 

Newcastle’s commitment to pay £28 million for Hall’s loan move to become permanent hinges on specific performance-related conditions. Despite Hall’s limited opportunities on the field, The Gazette indicates that the clause is likely to be activated based on Newcastle’s overall performance in the Premier League, rather than solely on Hall’s individual performance.

Although Hall has seen little action, Eddie Howe remarked, “He’s getting closer [to triggering the clause] with every game.” Despite not being regularly updated on the matter, Howe expressed confidence that the conditions for triggering the clause are nearing fulfillment. Consequently, Newcastle faces the prospect of paying a substantial fee for a player who has seen minimal playing time, especially considering that Hall is at a crucial stage of his career and development.

This financial commitment comes at a challenging time for Newcastle, as they are under significant pressure from the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. Moreover, even before the transfer window has opened, the club has already allocated a significant portion of their summer transfer budget to a player who is currently not vying for a spot in the starting lineup.

What next for Lewis Hall?

Hall is poised to become a permanent member of Newcastle in the summer, with the opportunity to showcase his abilities during pre-season. However, there’s a possibility that the club might opt to loan him out to secure regular first-team football and further aid his development.

Prior to Newcastle’s move, Hall had garnered significant interest from Crystal Palace, demonstrating his appeal among Premier League clubs. With his background of playing in both the Premier League and the Champions League, Hall would likely have several options available for a loan spell if Newcastle decides to pursue that route.

While Newcastle sees Hall as a long-term investment, questions arise about the club’s recruitment strategy, especially considering the allure of Champions League football at the time of Hall’s acquisition.

When questioned about the financial implications of spending around £30 million on a player who isn’t currently in the starting lineup, Eddie Howe emphasized the importance of every transfer decision. He noted the financial constraints faced by the club and the necessity to make prudent choices due to financial fair play regulations. Howe acknowledged the inevitability of mistakes in the transfer market but stressed the significance of striving for accuracy in every acquisition, not specifically addressing Hall but speaking in general terms about Newcastle’s transfer strategy.