Man Utd's perfect signing 'open' to transfer after World Cup snub

25 Jun 2026 09:57 BST | 4 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall is reportedly “open” to joining Manchester United this summer after missing out on England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

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The 21-year-old looked to be a shoo-in for Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad after an eye-catching campaign at St James’ Park, but he narrowly missed out on selection, with Reece James, Djed Spence, Nico O’Reilly and club team-mate Valentino Livramento chosen ahead of him at full-back.

Current ETV

Lewis Hall

D (L)

Newcastle

Lewis Hall

D (L)

Newcastle

ETV Range

€37.1M - €45.3M

Chelsea star Trevoh Chalobah then replaced Livramento after the Newcastle man was forced to withdraw from the tournament through injury, and Hall’s World Cup snub could lead to an Old Trafford switch.

That is according to The Sun, who report that Hall is open to completing a move to Man Utd before the end of the 2026 summer transfer window.

It’s claimed that Hall wants to play for a Champions League club next season, while he believes that he missed out on England’s World Cup squad due to how Eddie Howe managed him during the final stages of the campaign.

Hall was taken off at half-time during Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on 18 April, before being an unused substitute against Arsenal and then playing just 22 minutes versus Brighton & Hove Albion. He subsequently played 90 minutes in an unfamiliar right-back role in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on 10 May, while he was deployed as a left wing-back on the final day versus Fulham.

As a result, he is exploring his options and it’s understood that Man Utd are among the clubs keen to secure his signature.

Hall has also been linked with a move back to former club Chelsea, although the Blues are on the verge of signing Atalanta’s Marco Palestra and while the Italian is predominantly a right full-back, he is also capable of playing on the left and this could end the Blues’ interest in their former star.

Analysis: Why Man Utd should sign Lewis Hall

Luke Shaw played all 38 Premier League games for Man Utd last season, but with Champions League football to deal with next term, the Red Devils desperately need an able competitor.

Patrick Dorgu was signed for this exact purpose, however he looks far more comfortable in a more advanced role and securing a deal for Hall would therefore be wise.

The Newcastle star appears ideally suited to playing in a Michael Carrick system and his attacking tendencies mean he would likely dovetail perfectly with Matheus Cunha, who typically drifts infield when deployed as a left winger.

A deal is likely to be expensive, with Newcastle expected to demand a lofty transfer fee, but Hall is one of the best young left-backs in Europe and with Shaw now 30 years old, a deal makes perfect sense.

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