Chelsea should be on alert as Newcastle boss Eddie Howe casts doubt over £28m deal

Eddie Howe says he is doubtful that Chelsea loanee Lewis will remain at Newcastle after the end of the season

As per Mirror, Lewis Hall could return to Chelsea next season after Eddie Howe remains doubtful of his left-back’s future at Newcastle United after a lack of game time.

Hall was sent on loan to the Magpies with an obligation to buy after the end of the season for around £35 million. Since moving to the Magpies, the 19-year-old has barely played for Newcastle.

The youngster has featured only three times for the Tyneside. Howe wants Hall to defy expectations if he wants to become a regular at the club.

Lewis Hall could return to Chelsea next season   (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Lewis Hall could return to Chelsea next season (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Currently, it appears questionable whether Newcastle will buy the fullback permanently, despite their injury crisis. With Dan Burn recently returning from injury and Tino Livramento thriving under Howe, it remains very challenging for Hall to get some minutes on the pitch.

Following the injuries to Marc Cucurella and Ben Chiwell in the previous season, the young player was elevated to the senior squad. Hall left a lasting impression, and it seemed that Mauricio Pochettino had him in mind for the upcoming campaign. However, fans were taken aback by his unexpected loan transfer to Newcastle.

The Blues are currently dealing with an injury crisis of their own after both club’s left backs, Chilwell and Cucurella, have been sidelined with injuries, and now Pochettino has only one option: to play Levi Colwill as a left-back until his preferred options return.

Lewis Hall has played only three games for Magpies this season. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Lewis Hall has played only three games for the Magpies this season. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Hall had a fantastic season last year and appeared to be the next major academy player at Chelsea with all those accurate crosses in the box his ability and his linkup play on the field. However, his unplanned loan move to the Magpies was highly unexpected.

Given Chelsea’s injury issues, they ought to have retained Hall to mould him in this position. He is merely warming the benches at Newcastle because Burn and Livramento are higher than him in the pecking order.

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We still have a long season ahead of us, so maybe Howe will give him some playing time. Hall is a highly gifted player and needs proper nurturing because he has all the abilities to become a top left-back.