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Lewis Hall’s new contract does NOT include a release clause, Confidential can reveal – and that could be bad news for Manchester United.
Hall, 22, was Man United’s top target at left back this summer but he was a player Newcastle had no intention of selling. Omar Berrada, chief executive at Old Trafford, was told by opposite number David Hopkinson that Hall would be going nowhere, and the Red Devils did not attempt to test that resolve thereafter.
Contract talks accelerated last week and an agreement has now been reached, with improved terms and a two-year extension. Lawyers have this week been going over the finer details of the five-year deal – as is the way with all modern contracts – and an announcement is due.
Crucially, there is no release clause in the package, amid suggestion from Manchester that the club will return for Hall next summer.
Their interest is likely to be revisited, but the new contract protects the player’s value and rewards him for his development since joining Newcastle from Chelsea for £35million in 2023, making 102 appearances and scoring three goals.
Hall is set to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad of the season when he names his players for four Nations League matches next Friday.
Lewis Hall’s new contract does NOT include a release clause, Confidential can reveal - and that could be bad news for Manchester United
The 22-year-old's form for Newcastle has earned him four caps for England, and he is set to be named in Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad next week
New deals lined up for Murphy and Willock
Sticking with contracts, talks over extensions for Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock will take place after they stayed at the club beyond the transfer window.
The pair are now in the final year of their current deals but club chiefs will look at extending those terms by 12 months.
Newcastle turned down a £15m offer from Nottingham Forest for Murphy, while Besiktas explored a £17m move for Willock.
New boss Matthias Jaissle sees the value in both players and communicated his wish for them to stay put.
Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy are two of the longest-serving players in Newcastle's squad, having joined in 2021 and 2017 respectively
Osula making good progress
William Osula is out of his protective boot and is now fully mobile as he targets a return to action, which could even be this side of the international break.
Reports in Denmark last week suggested his foot injury – first revealed by Confidential two weeks ago – was far more serious than anticipated and claimed the striker was set for an extended spell on the sidelines. We can allay those fears by revealing there has been no fracture and there is no need for surgery.
Indeed, Osula is now able to work on rebuilding his fitness at the training ground and staff are pushing to have him involved before next weekend’s visit of Hull City, the final fixture ahead of the three-week break. The more likely target, say sources, is the first game after the international matches at Coventry City on October 12.
However, news that the 23-year-old has not suffered a serious injury will be welcomed by supporters and head coach Matthias Jaissle, who has only had the Dane available to him for 56 minutes of this campaign so far.
Meanwhile, staff were today assessing the severity of the hamstring injury that forced off Amar Dedic at Millwall on Tuesday night. The early indications are that the problem is not serious.
Newcastle staff staff are pushing to have Will Osula involved before next weekend’s visit of newly promoted upstarts Hull City, the final fixture ahead of the three-week break
New man's central demand
Matias Fernandez-Pardo has told Newcastle he wants to start matches as a No 9 – and that is where they intend to play him.
The 21-year-old finished the campaign as a centre forward at Lille, but up until March, he had spent most of his time on the left wing. The season before, he started only once as a striker in Ligue 1.
However, that is the position Fernandez-Pardo spoke about during talks to sign him last month. Now he is in the building, the plan to use him there remains unaltered.
Interestingly, Newcastle’s data analysts returned only two players with the same profile as Anthony Gordon, in terms of their output in both the left wing and central striker roles. One was Fernandez-Pardo, the other was Said El Mala of Cologne. El Mala, 20, did not move this summer, but he remains on Newcastle’s watchlist.
Meanwhile, Pardo’s wish to play as a No 9 will see him compete with Osula for the starting jersey, with Yoane Wissa likely to be used more as a No 10.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo has made clear to the club that he wants to play as a No9
One that got away?
Here is a belated one on transfers – three years later! – but Newcastle spoke with Ayyoub Bouaddi when he was 15 years old.
I only heard this in recent days and thought it was worth sharing after seeing the 18-year-old Moroccan make such an impressive start at Manchester City, whom he joined for £85.6m from Lille last month.
The midfielder and his family, I’m told, had conversations with club staff with a view to building a relationship.
However, they were not the only club to do so, and Bouaddi had his pick of several major European sides this summer after a stellar World Cup.
Newcastle made contact with Man City's new midfield gem Ayyoub Bouaddi three years ago, when he was in Lille's academy
Show me the money!
Finally, Newcastle will confirm a new multi-million-pound partnership with Coca-Cola this week.
The global drinks brand will replace Sela as sponsor of the St James’ STACK fan zone.
Newcastle have also signed a new multi-year deal to extend their partnership with betting and entertainment brand, BetMGM.
Negotiated by chief executive Hopkinson, the deals represent another step in the club’s drive to increase commercial revenues. More partnership announcements are expected in the coming months.
