NEWCASTLE UNITED have discussed the possibility of a deal for full-back Lewis Hall with Chelsea, but accept Financial Fair Play rules could make it difficult to engineer a transfer.
Eddie Howe is keen to bring in an additional defender before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, but having signed Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento with a net outlay of around £95m this summer, the Magpies are already at the limit of the spending permitted under FFP.
Hall enjoyed a breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge last term, playing in Chelsea’s first team under both Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.
It had been envisaged that he would sign a new six-year contract with the Blues this summer before heading out on loan, with Crystal Palace known to have held detailed talks over a possible season-long switch to Selhurst Park.
Newcastle are willing to discuss a loan offer of their own, although ideally, they would like any temporary arrangement to include a clause that would enable them to complete a permanent deal next summer if Hall’s season on Tyneside was successful. At this stage, that is something that Chelsea are understood to be reluctant to agree to.
Alternatively, the Magpies could look to engineer a permanent transfer this summer, although any deal would have to involve heavily staggered payments and a long-term contract to help with FFP issues.
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That has not been completely ruled out, although Chelsea’s coaching team are known to rate 18-year-old Hall extremely highly and there is likely to be a reluctance to sell now while the teenager is still to be properly tested in the top-flight.
Newcastle are also interested in Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney, although last night’s news that the Gunners’ new defensive signing, Jurrien Timber, suffered a serious injury during his debut against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, could make Mikel Arteta less likely to sanction the departure of a defender.
Spanish side Real Sociedad are also known to be pushing hard for Tierney, with the Scotland international’s former club, Celtic, also having been repeatedly linked with a potential move for his services this summer.
Another Chelsea left-back, Marc Cucurella, is an alternative option given that he was an unused substitute in the Blues’ opening-weekend draw with Liverpool and is not believed to figure prominently in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans for the new campaign.
Cucurella’s wages could prove problematic, however, with the 25-year-old reportedly earning around £175,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge.
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