Manchester United are set to delay their move for Lewis Hall after learning of Newcastle's £75m price tag for the 21-year-old left-back. The Red Devils are keen to add a new left-back to their squad this summer, with Luke Shaw currently Michael Carrick's only senior option in the position and academy graduate Harry Amass available as back-up.
Newcastle's asking price proves prohibitive
Hall, a four-time England defender, has emerged as a standout option for United chiefs, but a deal is not expected to be cheap. According to Mail Online, Newcastle want around £75m for the player, a price tag that has so far proven prohibitive.
That has led to United chiefs having to be creative with their pursuit. It is suggested that they will now delay a big-money swoop for Hall and instead look to sign him next summer.
Previous delayed deals and alternatives
It is not the first time the Red Devils have had to put a deal on the back-burner. They also pursued a move for Carlos Baleba last season, but felt his price was too high, delayed for 12 months, and eventually secured his signature at a more reasonable price.
United's decision comes after former midfielder Paul Scholes urged the club to re-evaluate their interest in Hall. Asked if boss Michael Carrick would be keen on defensive additions, he replied: “100 per cent. That will have been going on for months, you’re not just talking the last couple of days.
“Do you know one thing that might help Michael? Luke Shaw getting done yesterday [against Ipswich] like he did. So he might go, ‘Look, we need him’, and you think Lewis Hall might be the most doable who is out there and available.
“You would have thought some work on that has been done. The amount of rumours there have been, you would have thought some work on that has been done.
“It doesn’t feel like they’re going to do anything does it? Lewis Hall was floated about for a bit.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen and this is why United are going to be United again: we’re probably not much different from last year and not much different from the last five years.
“They can look devastating at times but at times they’ll look like they did in the first half [against Ipswich] where they concede goals.
“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 Red Devils had a number of alternatives to Hall during the window, including Barcelona's Alejandro Balde and Racing Santander's Jorge Salinas.
