Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle has delivered a blunt response to Manchester United's reported interest in left-back Lewis Hall, stating there is 'No chance! No chance!' of a transfer this summer.
The German coach, who replaced Eddie Howe at St James' Park, was responding to a question from Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel after his side's 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Hall has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as the Red Devils look to provide competition for Luke Shaw.
Newcastle determined to keep key players
The Magpies have already lost a number of key players this summer, including Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, and Sandro Tonali. With such significant departures, the club is keen to avoid selling any more important squad members.
Jaissle's response was unequivocal when asked about Hall's future, making it clear that the 21-year-old is not for sale despite Manchester United's interest.
Jaissle expects transfer movement before deadline
The 38-year-old manager, who arrived this summer, expects significant transfer activity before the window closes on September 3. He indicated that new arrivals are planned, but also suggested that more players could leave the club before the deadline.
'I would love to answer that with a clear number, but it's depending also if players are leaving as well,' Jaissle told Sky Sports ahead of the Liverpool game when asked about how many new signings he expects. 'For sure, there will be adjustments made, the needs are clear. The management knows about the needs and we are all aligned.'
'We will use the remaining time [in the transfer window] in the best possible way, but also we trust the players who are already here,' he added.
Magpies focus on young talent
Newcastle have spent well over £150 million on new signings this summer, focusing primarily on young players without Premier League experience. New arrivals Amar Dedic, Sean Steur, and Lukas Hornicek were all in the starting XI against Liverpool, while Aladji Bamba made his debut from the bench.
After the match, Jaissle was again asked about upcoming business and suggested that the number of signings he wants can be counted on one hand. 'I hope so, today the lads were amazing, a young squad but we have some needs we know internally and we keep that internally,' he said. 'You can count them on one hand.'
The club's recent form has been mixed, with a 2-0 defeat at Hull City in their opening match followed by the impressive draw against Liverpool. The need for new arrivals appears pressing, but the manager has made it clear that retaining key players like Hall is a priority.
