Newcastle United have made it clear they will not sell Lewis Hall this summer, despite continued interest from Manchester United. The Magpies are determined to keep the left-back, who has featured in both of their friendly games this summer.
Hall was absent from an open training session in La Manga this morning, but it is understood he and centre-back Fabian Schar are working on different fitness programmes and trained away from the main group in Spain.
No repeat of Bruno Guimaraes sale
It has been made clear that Hall will not follow Bruno Guimaraes, who was sold to Arsenal for £75m. Newcastle are now into day six of the Matthias Jaissle era, with three weeks to go until their Premier League opener against Liverpool at St James' Park.
The squad has been undergoing double sessions under the German coach, but today was deemed a lighter session. Fans have grown concerned that the club are selling too many stars too rapidly, following the departures of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno.
Club determined to stop the rot
Toon chiefs know they must stop the rot in terms of departures, and it has been made clear in no uncertain terms that Hall won't be sold. A fresh layer of uncertainty arose after Eddie Howe's departure, with Hall posting a tribute to the former head coach.
Talk of a bust-up between Hall and Howe, amid more Man United talk, was dismissed in June. The former head coach was furious at a national newspaper report suggesting he had cost Hall his World Cup place.
Owners' ambition
CEO David Hopkinson has insisted Newcastle still scream ambition in an interview with The Athletic, saying: "Not only is PIF committed to Newcastle 2.0, they demand it. The ambition I’ve articulated has been generated in concert with the owners. I refer to the owners there because it’s not exclusively PIF, but also the Reuben family."
"I talk to our owners multiple times a day. They commit time, energy, people, resources, consulting, advice. They are the most leaned-in owners I’ve ever worked with. All they want to know is how they can help. They challenge our thinking and push us. They’re absolutely extraordinary partners. There’s no one that wants to see Newcastle 2.0 succeed more than they do."
