Manchester United are monitoring Lewis Hall’s situation at Newcastle United, and there is a belief that the player would be open to a switch to Old Trafford, according to reputable journalist Andy Mitten.

Hall has impressed on Tyneside since his move from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, enjoying an outstanding 2025/26 season which saw him make 46 appearances across all competitions. The left-back’s excellent displays have prompted clubs to take a look at him, with potential suitors eager to take advantage of the mass exodus that is unfolding at St. James’ Park this summer.

United have long been touted as the club most avidly pursuing Hall, and this has now been verified by credible reporter Mitten.

The Athletic journalist indicates that it’s unlikely United would be weighing up a move for a player they don’t believe would be open to joining them.

Andy Mitten: Man Utd Confident Lewis Hall Wants to Join

via Reuters

To the surprise of many, Luke Shaw stayed fit for the entirety of last season, featuring in all 38 Premier League games for the Red Devils.

However, even if this unlikely feat occurs again, Michael Carrick will need another dependable left-back option in his squad, as United prepare to play in European competition once again.

Hall has been identified as the primary target for this position, and Mitten has confirmed that the north-west outfit’s interest in the £70m-rated ex-Chelsea man is real.

Speaking on the United We Stand podcast, the reporter claimed that acquiring a left-back is a priority for United’s hierarchy this summer.

“United want a left-back,” he said.

“Cover for Luke Shaw, someone to push Luke Shaw, given that Luke Shaw may not be able to play as many games as United hope to play this season.

“United like Lewis Hall, the young left-back at Newcastle United. Manchester United would not be targeting players if they did not think they would want to come to Old Trafford.”

Man Utd Must Have Alternatives to Hall Lined Up

Newcastle sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham for £100 million earlier this summer, while they also lost Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and look increasingly likely to lose Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal.

Eddie Howe’s squad is falling apart one by one, and thus, the Magpies may not be willing to sanction Hall’s departure on top of all of these other high-profile exits.

The Tynesiders could demand an astronomical fee for the England international, making a deal with United for the player untenable. For this reason, United must have genuine alternative targets lined up, and based on the volume of links to Hall, it doesn’t seem as though anything else is particularly developed on this front.

Djed Spence has been mooted as a target, although concrete reporting on this deal is yet to surface.

Heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua both won warm-up fights over the weekend ahead of facing off against one another later in the year.

It was something of a surreal few days for both, with Fury stopping Mariusz Wach at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Thailand in front of just 1,500 spectators, and Joshua coming through what was surely the worst first round of his career to see off the potential for a huge upset and defeat Kristian Prenga in the second.

Each fight was a world away from what promises to be a blockbuster event between the pair, both in terms of the occasion and the money on the table, especially after the fight purses were revealed for this weekend’s action, where it was revealed Wach actually earned more than Fury.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua Won Their Respective Fights

With a fight between Fury and Joshua having been discussed since 2016 and fallen apart many times since, the stakes were high as both men took on their final warm-up fights.

Fury was first up, taking on Wach in Thailand in a very low-key event that was not even broadcast on television or radio. Instead, it is set to be part of the third series of ‘At Home With The Furys’ airing on Netflix.

Fury still made light work of the Pole, dominating for seven rounds before Wach retired on his stool.

On Saturday night, it was Joshua’s turn, returning to the ring for the first time since the tragic death of two of his closest friends in a car crash in Nigeria back in December.

After the first round, it looked like once again the prospect of AJ v Fury was going to fall apart. Joshua hit the canvas after mere seconds of the fight getting underway. He was dropped for a second time later in the first, leaving many wondering if he was about to fall foul of another huge upset, having previously been defeated by Andy Ruiz Jr and Daniel Dubois when a big favourite.

Credit: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

However, Joshua hit back in the second to defeat the Albanian by TKO. It means that at last the path is clear for a long-awaited showdown between Fury and Joshua.

What Fury and Joshua Earned For Their Victories

Mariusz Wach actually made more than Tyson Fury for their fight. Wach made a reported $750,000 for their clash, while Fury made nothing at all.

That’s because the two-time world heavyweight champion announced that he would donate his purse to the Father Ray Foundation. The charity supports orphans, children with disabilities and underprivileged kids in Thailand.

Joshua, meanwhile, was paid a huge $18 million for his fight versus Prenga, which took place at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia. Prenga was paid $1m.

There is little doubting, though, that Joshua and Fury will both be earning far more when they take on each other.

On Joshua’s undercard in Jeddah, Berkshire’s Hamzah Sheerah was actually the second-best paid fighter on either show. The 27-year-old earned $2m for successfully defending his WBC Super Middleweight Championship against Simon Zachenhuber. The previously unbeaten German made $500,000 for his efforts.

In the second world title fight on the card, Sunderland’s Josh Kelly outpointed Ireland’s Caoimhin Agyarko to retain his IBF Light Middleweight Championship. Kelly earned $500,000 for the win, with his opponent walking away with $250,000.

With Fury and Joshua now planned to collide in November, both men can expect to make significantly more than they did this weekend when they finally step into the ring.

Vinicius Junior will not return to Real Madrid training this week, despite the club expecting him back before the end of the month, according to the Daily Mail.

The Brazilian’s absence comes as his representatives push to revive stalled talks over a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season and Arsenal showing interest, ready to swoop if his stand-off drags on.

Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, is already laying the groundwork for his second spell in charge at the Bernabeu, with the futures of several senior players still to be resolved.

Real Madrid insist the ball is in Vinicius’ court, but resurfaced comments from the winger suggest his own priorities may not match the club’s ultimatum.

Vinicius Jr Stays Away Despite Being Expected Back

Phil Noble via Action Images via Reuters

Madrid’s stance is simple: Vinicius’ future is in his own hands. Agree to become their joint top earner alongside Kylian Mbappe, and the club will keep him. Refuse, and there are no plans for an improved offer, with the door left wide open for Arsenal to make their move.

Talks between his representatives, Roc Nation, and Los Blancos are expected to focus on Vini’s commercial value, given his current deal sees him hand over roughly half of his publicity earnings.

During the World Cup alone, he held lucrative partnerships with 15 sponsors worldwide, a number bettered only by fellow Brazilian Neymar. His value elsewhere is well established too. Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia reportedly offered him a five-year, €1billion contract last summer.

Vinicius Junior Made His True Real Madrid Feelings Clear

Despite the standoff, Vinicius has been open before about where his heart lies. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo earlier this year, he said: “I’m not in a hurry to renew my contract. I’m tied to the club until 2027, so between now and 2027, there’s still a lot for Madrid and me to discuss.”

“Now I’m one of the captains of the team. Even at such a young age, that’s something very special that doesn’t happen often in football history. So I enjoy every moment. I want to stay here for the rest of my life, but I’m still not in a hurry to renew my contract.”