The report points out that Lewis Hall is highly sought after within Manchester United, but signing the full-back from Newcastle will be very difficult. After selling Anthony Gordon, Tonali, and Guimaraes this summer, Newcastle are in no hurry to let Hall go unless a very tempting and expensive offer comes in. However, why Hall is so popular remains to be analyzed.
Newcastle faced many difficulties last season, but Hall's stats were at least somewhat similar to those of Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, and in some aspects even better.
Hall almost perfectly embodies everything a modern left-back needs. He's a high-quality one-on-one defender against wingers; his judgment is also sharp when pressing forward and neutralizing new threats. Unlike Luke Shaw's role at Manchester United, Hall isn't the core of Newcastle's attacks from the back, but once he gets the ball in open space, he can contribute significantly in all three areas.
He crosses frequently, but his accuracy is somewhat inconsistent. Last season, he attempted 2.6 open crosses per 90 minutes, with a success rate of only 18%. However, his speed, awareness, and ability to read the game make him a formidable opponent when dribbling past defenders or making forward runs.
This player is fully qualified to be Luke Shaw's backup, and even compete for a starting position in Carrick's system. However, his contract with Newcastle doesn't expire until the summer of 2029, and with the possibility of renegotiating a renewal soon, Manchester United will likely have to wait.
