Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Manchester United are looking at a deal for Lewis Hall. But a transfer won’t be cheap.
Newcastle waved goodbye to manager Eddie Howe at the end of July, and he is not the only major departure from the club this summer.
Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes have been sold, and the price tags speak for themselves. Newcastle received £55 million from Barcelona for Gordon, and £80 million from Arsenal for Guimaraes.
There is little chance of Manchester United being able to prise Lewis Hall away on the cheap. A deal will cost at least £50 million.
There is one way United could approach these negotiations to try and reduce the outlay, repeating a transfer strategy from 1996.
England v Japan - International Friendly
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Getty Images
The Andy Cole / Keith Gillespie swap
One of the biggest transfers in the Premier League in the 1990s took place between Manchester United and Newcastle.
Sir Alex Ferguson struck a deal to sign Newcastle’s top scorer Andy Cole, an audacious swoop nobody believed would be possible.
The nightmare scenario for Newcastle fans was tempered by receiving a British record £7 million for Cole, and that wasn’t all.
Manchester United agreed to sell promising winger Keith Gillespie to Newcastle as part of the deal.
Gillespie’s sale was bittersweet for United fans. The right winger had already made a first team impact and his direct play made him an exciting prospect.
Ferguson of course knew that he had a young David Beckham waiting in the wings, and selling Gillespie was an acceptable price to pay to land Cole.
Now in 2026, current manager Michael Carrick has to decide whether to make the same sacrifice with Harry Amass.
Getty Images
Harry Amass as a makeweight
Manchester United must consider whether to use Harry Amass as a makeweight in a deal to sign Lewis Hall.
With Hall joining, Amass’ path to first team football would be blocked behind the new arrival and regular Luke Shaw.
While there is an option for Shaw to switch to centre-back, the more likely scenario is that he remains a left-back alternative to Hall.
Newcastle should jump at the opportunity to sign Amass if Manchester United make him available.
United should insist that Amass is valued at £10 million to reduce the outlay on Hall.
A sell-on fee and buy-back clause are also options that the Red Devils could insist on.
Amass should flourish if given a chance to play regularly at Newcastle.
While Keith Gillespie did not become a superstar at Newcastle, he did go on to have a very creditable career with 491 professional appearances.
Amass would do well to have a career with similar longevity.
While on the other side, Andy Cole went on to win the Champions League, five Premier League titles, and two FA Cups.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Lewis Hall had the same success.