Lewis Hall sends transfer message to Man Utd after signing Newcastle contract

Lewis Hall insists he wasn’t affected by rumours linking him with Manchester United in the summer and he plans to be with Newcastle for a ‘long time’ if the club are able to match their ambitions.

The 22-year-old was identified as the Red Devils’ top target at left-back at the start of the transfer window and various reports indicated he was ‘keen’ on the idea of a move to Old Trafford.

Given he shares an agent with Eddie Howe, news of the manager’s departure at Newcastle only intensified speculation that Hall could be set for the exit door at St James’ Park.

But the Magpies made it clear they were not prepared to sell unless they received anything other than an astronomical offer for Hall – and the England international stayed put as the transfer deadline came and went.

Just days after the transfer market closed for business, Newcastle announced that Hall had put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, tying him to the club until 2031.

The young full-back has gone on to hit the ground running this season, starting all of the Toon’s opening seven games in all competitions – and scoring what proved to be the decisive goal in the side’s 2-1 victory over Hull City last weekend.

This impressive run of form saw Hall recalled to England’s squad – after he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad in the summer – for the Three Lions’ four upcoming Nations League matches.

‘No, honestly, it didn’t, Hall told Chronicle Live when asked if the speculation over his future had made life difficult in the summer.

‘I guess whenever you’re linked to another team, you know that you’re doing something right. I guess it’s just a credit to your own performances and how you are as a player, how you are as a person.

‘I took that as a positive, but at the same time, I knew how much I love playing here and I knew that since the manager came in, I knew the ambitions and what we wanted to achieve.

‘After not many conversations, not many training sessions, I knew that the manager was going to be really good for this club and I knew that as a team, bringing in new players and improving the squad was really important and as soon as we did that, it was a no-brainer really to sign.’

Hall was ‘grateful’ to be offered a new deal with Newcastle and expects to be playing for the club for the foreseeable future – as long as they are successful in achieving what they have planned together.

‘I think when you’re at a team you don’t think too far into the future,’ he added.

‘Obviously, I’m really grateful for the contract that I’ve received and the trust that I’ve been given from the board and from the manager and everything like that.

‘But I’m just taking it game by game, just trying to do the best I can for this club.

‘We’ve got ambitions and as long as we achieve these ambitions and achieve what we want to achieve, I’m sure I’ll be here for a long time.’

Though saddened by Howe’s departure, it’s clear Hall is massively enjoying his time under new Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle.

‘He’s a top guy. He’s been so good to me,’ Hall said of the 38-year-old German, who left Saudi outfit Al-Ahli to take over the reins at St James’ Park.

‘He gives me the licence to express myself as long as I do the defensive work and do the running that’s required for this position, which is quite a lot of work.

‘But I’m happy to do it as long as it benefits the team. He’s been a positive for everyone who’s come in so far.’

After getting the better of high-flying Hull, Newcastle will look to pick up where they left off when they return to action away to Coventry City in their next Premier League contest.

The Magpies sit ninth in the English top flight after five games, picking up two wins, two draws and a defeat ahead of their trip to Coventry Arena on October 12.

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