Jermaine Jenas has told Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall that joining Manchester United this summer would be a ‘great move’.
Michael Carrick has expressed interest in Chelsea academy graduate Hall as he looks to provide cover and competition for Luke Shaw.
Shaw enjoyed one of his best seasons at Old Trafford last term but has struggled with injuries in the past and must cope with the demands of European football this year.
Hall, 21, is believed to be keen on a move to Manchester United as he has grown frustrated at St James’ Park and missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.
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Newcastle are reluctant to sell the talented left-back but will entertain offers given Hall’s desire to leave, starting at £60m.
Jenas has been impressed by Hall’s development at Newcastle but says he should pursue a move to Old Trafford as it would be a ‘huge step up’.
‘I think it’s a great move for him, I really do,’ Jenas, who spent three years at Newcastle, told 10bet.
‘He’s had a fantastic couple of years at Newcastle. I think he was obviously a huge Newcastle United fan after going there from Chelsea and so on, but he’s one of those players that people looked at and said he should probably be at the World Cup.
‘Like I said, he’s had a good, solid year; his development year-in, year-out seems to be getting better and better.
‘For a club like Manchester United to come in for him is a huge step in the right direction—not only for United, because he’s just consistent week-in, week-out, but it’s also a big loss for Newcastle, I’m not going to lie.
‘For him and his personal career, it’s a great move.’
Hall spent a decade in the Chelsea academy but only made 12 first-team appearances for the Blues before being sold to Newcastle.
He has since established himself as one of the most consistent left-backs in the Premier League but was somewhat surprisingly left out of England’s World Cup squad by Tuchel.
Newcastle’s summer of turmoil has seen manager Eddie Howe depart and midfield star Sandro Tonali join Tottenham.
‘After a period of personal reflection, I have decided that now is the right time for me to step away from my role,’ Howe said.
‘After nearly five years of giving my life, heart and soul into the club with unrelenting energy, I feel that it is in the best interests of both myself and the club to step away, recharge and take a break.
‘Although it’s been incredibly difficult to make this decision, I know in my heart that it’s the right one.
‘It has been the privilege of my lifetime to have been the manager of Newcastle United.’
German manager Matthias Jaissle, currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, is the frontrunner to take over from Howe, who took Newcastle into the Champions League and guided them to Carabao Cup glory.
Newcastle face Liverpool in their Premier League opener on August 23.
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