Chelsea brace for January transfer window decision after Newcastle United disaster

Chelsea star Lewis Hall is set to stay on loan at Premier League rival Newcastle United despite regularly failing to break into Eddie Howe's starting XI.

The 19-year-old signed with the Magpies over the summer with a £28 million obligation-to-buy clause written into his contract but has only made four starts across all competitions this season, totalling just 106 minutes in the Premier League. It's in stark contrast to the end of his last campaign with the Blues under former boss Frank Lampard, who gave him four straight league starts to close out 2022/23.

Despite his limited involvement, though, it's believed that the clause isn't based on appearances and can be triggered over the second half of the season, which would see Chelsea let go of yet another young academy product. Even with an incredible amount of injuries to their defensive department — including full-backs Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella — Hall is unlikely to return to Stamford Bridge this month.

Magpies manager Eddie Howe has previously claimed that there'll be a 'period of adaptation' for Hall after his switch from full-back to a defensive-minded midfielder in the Newcastle system, and that he's willing to keep him onboard for next season. He claimed: «He’s settled in fine. He’s working well, I think we need to develop certain areas of his game.

»We have no doubts of his qualities and what he can bring to the team. He is doing a lot of things behind the scenes, we work with him daily. He was brought in with a view for the here and now obviously, to compete for places, but also the future. From my part it would be just a little bit of patience with us. He's got a big part to play."

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