Abdulhafiz TeslimManchester United have reportedly been handed fresh encouragement in their pursuit of Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall, with growing uncertainty surrounding the Magpies’ squad following a dramatic summer of departures.
Newcastle were rocked earlier in the transfer window when Alexander Isak completed a British-record £125 million move to Liverpool. The upheaval did not end there, as Anthony Gordon sealed a £69 million switch to Barcelona before Tottenham Hotspur broke their transfer record to sign Sandro Tonali in a £100 million deal.
Now, club captain Bruno Guimarães is also pushing for an exit. Reports suggest the Brazilian has informed Newcastle of his desire to join Arsenal, although the Magpies insist there has been no direct contact from the Gunners. Through intermediaries, however, offers are believed to have been discussed, with Newcastle standing firm on a £100 million valuation while Arsenal prepare an improved bid worth around £80 million.
Although a Guimarães sale would leave Newcastle in a much stronger financial position after already raising significant funds through previous transfers, transfer expert Ben Jacobs believes the bigger concern is the message it could send to the rest of the squad.
Speaking to The United Stand, Jacobs explained that Newcastle’s long-standing stance of protecting their key players may no longer carry the same weight if another marquee departure is sanctioned.
“We’ve been told for months by Newcastle sources that if Livramento goes, Hall won’t, or vice versa. If Tonali goes, Guimarães won’t,” Jacobs said.
“And now we’re in a situation where Guimarães has asked Newcastle to leave. Newcastle insist there has been no direct contact with Arsenal, but through various agents, offers have already been made.
“If Guimarães leaves Newcastle, although you might think that shuts the door to other exits, you could make an argument that other players are going to try their luck if they want to leave.
“At that point, it becomes less about finances and more about whether Newcastle can convince key players to stay committed to the project. If the club’s ‘not-for-sale’ stance changes for one star, others may begin to believe they can also secure a move.”
According to Jacobs, that could place both Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento under the spotlight, with Manchester United continuing to monitor Hall’s situation closely.
United have identified the England international as one of their priority targets at left-back, despite previous reports suggesting otherwise.
“Despite suggestions he is not a Manchester United target, he is, according to my information,” Jacobs continued.
“There will be a conversation between Hall and Eddie Howe, and that’s either going to settle down a new deal, or the player may say he wants an opportunity. If that’s the case, Manchester United are going to be there in my opinion.”
Hall remains under contract at Newcastle until 2029, meaning the Magpies are under no pressure to sell. Jacobs believes his market value currently sits between £40 million and £45 million, but Newcastle would almost certainly demand a significantly higher fee given his age, potential and long-term contract.
“I don’t think Newcastle have set the specific number at this stage,” Jacobs added. “But that could depend on whether the player agitates for a move, and also what Howe’s pitch is.”
While Hall was not believed to be unhappy with life at St James’ Park last season, the coming weeks could prove decisive. A meeting with Eddie Howe is expected to determine whether the highly-rated defender remains a central part of Newcastle’s plans or whether Manchester United are given the opportunity to test the Magpies’ resolve with a formal approach.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim