United face £70m demand for Lewis Hall as Howe emerges as Carrick's likely successor

Manchester United have been told they must spend in excess of £70 million to sign Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall in the January transfer window — a figure that would set a new world record for a defender in that position.

According to Football Insider, that asking price eclipses the £69 million Bayern Munich paid Atlético Madrid for Lucas Hernández in 2019, underlining Newcastle’s determination to hold on to one of their most coveted assets.

The valuation arrives at a turbulent moment at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick’s position as head coach is increasingly precarious after United collected just one win from their opening eight Premier League matches, leaving the club 16th in the table. They have also gone eight games without a victory across all competitions, and speculation over Carrick’s future is intensifying by the day.

Among the candidates being discussed as potential replacements are Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann, and former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. It is the prospect of Howe’s arrival that gives the Hall pursuit an added dimension. The 22-year-old left-back flourished under Howe during his breakthrough season on Tyneside, and the pair are understood to share a strong working relationship — one that could prove persuasive if Howe is handed the keys to Old Trafford.

United attempted to address their left-back problem in the summer but failed to land a target. Hall was linked with a move then, yet Newcastle’s reluctance to sell — having already parted with Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon to Arsenal, Tottenham, and Barcelona respectively — meant no deal was struck. Barcelona’s Alejandro Baldé was also considered, but he opted to remain at the Camp Nou and compete for his place under Hansi Flick.

With the winter window approaching, United now have a clear picture of what it will take to solve a position that has been a persistent weakness. Whether the club’s ownership is willing to commit to a record-breaking outlay for a full-back — and whether Howe is even in the dugout to request it — remains to be seen.