R1MFD8 LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Roy Hodgson of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on October 28, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (MB Media)
‘Very special’ Crystal Palace target pull U-turn because Newcastle United want him
Newcastle United are joining Crystal Palace in the race to sign Chelsea talent Lewis Hall in a deal which could reach £30million.
Chelsea talent Lewis Hall is wanted at Newcastle United with Eddie Howe believed to be a big fan.
That is according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, who reports that Newcastle are now lining up a bid to sign Hall.
It’s claimed that Hall was in talks to extend his Chelsea contract and then go out on loan.
The London Evening Standard reported similar last week, suggesting that Hall was close to a new deal and then a loan move to Crystal Palace.
The friendship between Roy Hodgson and Mauricio Pochettino was suggested as a major factor in that move.
However, Nixon believes that Newcastle’s interest has ‘moved the goalposts’ with Hall potentially pulling a U-turn whilst Chelsea may be tempted to sell.
This comes amid Newcastle’s enquiry into signing Marc Cucurella with a left back seemingly high on Eddie Howe’s wish list.
Hall is a player Howe likes and Newcastle may now launch a major £30million move to sign Hall – and possibly scupper Palace’s hopes.
Lewis Hall may have emotional pull to Newcastle United
Hall was born in Slough, some 285 miles away from Newcastle.
Yet Hall’s brother Connor – a former Sheffield United and Bolton Wanderers talent – has opened up on supporting Newcastle.
The 25-year-old, now with Solihull Moors in non-league football, has previously tweeted about how he’s a ‘massive’ Newcastle fan and loves Alan Shearer.
Hall’s bio even reads ‘Newcastle fan’ with the Magpies clearly meaning a lot to him.
Chelsea talent Hall hasn’t been quite so public with any love of Newcastle but Connor has previously told The Chronicle that he is indeed a boyhood Magpie.
That may make a move to St James’ Park very appealing, surely more so than a loan move to Palace.
This would mean giving up on his Chelsea career but Hall – hailed as ‘very special’ by Pat Nevin – may well be tempted to join Newcastle and do his family proud.
