Newcastle United close to handing major Financial Fair Play boost to Premier League rivals

Newcastle United are reportedly closing in on their first summer signing that will hand a Financial Fair Play boost to one of their Premier League rivals.

Although Chelsea youngster Lewis Hall has struggled to make a serious impact since agreeing a season-long loan move to St James Park, there is now an expectation the England Under-21 international will trigger a permanent switch to Tyneside over the coming weeks by triggering certain criteria within the initial agreement between the two clubs.

Hall has made just 11 appearances in all competitions since making the temporary switch to Newcastle in August and has failed to nail down a regular place in Eddie Howe’s starting eleven after making just four starts over the first six months of the season. However, the United manager admitted he sees the youngster forming part of his squad ‘for many years’.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s visit to Stamford Bridge, Howe said: “In terms of my thinking, I’m preparing for Lewis to be at Newcastle for many years. He was always brought in with a long-term view, not as a short-term signing. He is a long-term signing.

"We have always believed in him and his quality and we have been working really hard with him on his game. He’s a really talented lad. He’s got a couple of things to continue working on as all the players have. I believe in him. My vision for him is he will be at Newcastle for many years.”

Although the criteria to trigger Hall’s £30m permanent move to Newcastle has not been officially revealed, journalist Fabrizio Romano has now revealed Chelsea have ‘no doubts’ a deal will be confirmed in the near future.

Speaking via his X (formerly Twitter) account, he said: “Lewis Hall’s loan to Newcastle will become permanent soon, as it’s just considered matter of time. Chelsea have no doubts on receiving £30m fee as profit for Financial Fair Play; Newcastle consider Hall one for long term, as Howe confirmed.”