Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle gave a blunt and humorous response when former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel suggested that his old club could be interested in signing Lewis Hall.
The exchange took place during a live television interview following Newcastle’s entertaining 2-2 draw with Liverpool at St James’ Park on Sunday. Jaissle was speaking to Viaplay on the pitch after the final whistle when the conversation turned towards Newcastle’s plans for the remainder of the transfer window.
The German coach was asked whether he expected the club to make further additions to his squad during what has been an unusually complicated summer for Newcastle. The club have already experienced significant changes, with several important players moving on and uncertainty surrounding the futures of a number of other members of the squad.
Among the notable departures were Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon, leaving Newcastle with some major gaps to fill. At the same time, speculation has surrounded several other players, including Joe Willock, Tino Livramento and Hall.
When Jaissle was asked whether he was hoping to see more new arrivals, he acknowledged that Newcastle still had areas that needed attention. However, he also warned that bringing players into the club could potentially lead to further departures.
Jaissle explained that the sporting director could be facing a particularly demanding period as the club attempts to address those needs. He suggested that Newcastle would need to carefully balance incoming transfers with the possibility of players leaving the club.
That was when Schmeichel, who was taking part in the broadcast and has a strong connection with Manchester United, decided to make a cheeky intervention.
The former United goalkeeper told Jaissle, “We are looking at your left back,” clearly referring to Lewis Hall. Manchester United have reportedly expressed interest in the young defender during the summer as they continue to assess their options at left-back.
Jaissle’s response was immediate.
Laughing, the Newcastle manager simply replied, “No chance, no chance.”
The short exchange produced an amusing moment during the live interview, but it also underlined Newcastle’s determination to retain Hall. Despite Manchester United’s reported interest, Jaissle appears to have no intention of allowing one of his key young players to leave without a fight.
Hall has emerged as an important asset for Newcastle since joining the club from Chelsea in 2023. The defender is still only 21 years old and has three years remaining on his current contract, meaning Newcastle are in a strong negotiating position if another club attempts to sign him.
His contract situation also means that any potential transfer would likely require a substantial financial offer. Newcastle have little reason to sell cheaply, particularly given Hall’s age, potential and increasing importance to the squad.
Manchester United’s interest, meanwhile, is understandable given their situation at left-back. The club have been looking for greater depth in that position, with Luke Shaw now 31 and entering the final year of his current contract.
Shaw remains an important player when available and started all 38 Premier League matches for United last season. However, the club do not appear to have an obvious long-term replacement or dependable back-up option in the position.
Young defender Harry Amass has also been linked with a possible departure, with reports suggesting that he may benefit from leaving Old Trafford temporarily or permanently in order to gain regular first-team football.
Patrick Dorgu is another option who can operate on the left, although Michael Carrick is understood to view him more naturally as a winger. That leaves United potentially vulnerable in the position and explains why a player such as Hall would be an attractive target.
Hall possesses the versatility and technical quality that could appeal to United. His youth also fits the club’s desire to build a squad that can develop over several seasons rather than relying exclusively on experienced players.
Nevertheless, Jaissle’s comments suggest that Newcastle are unwilling to make the process easy. The manager clearly sees Hall as an important part of his plans and appears confident that the player will remain at St James’ Park.
His comments came shortly after Newcastle had delivered an encouraging performance against Liverpool in their first league game of the season.
The hosts appeared on course for a memorable victory after goals from Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock helped them establish a 2-1 lead. Newcastle competed strongly against the reigning champions and looked capable of securing all three points.
However, Liverpool refused to give up. Dominik Szoboszlai eventually converted a penalty deep into stoppage time, scoring in the 99th minute to rescue a 2-2 draw for the visitors.
Although Jaissle was disappointed that his side had been denied victory so late in the match, he remained highly positive about what he had seen from his players.
The Newcastle boss admitted that the result left him with mixed feelings. While the late equaliser was frustrating, he was encouraged by the way his young team performed for more than 90 minutes against one of the strongest sides in the division.
Jaissle praised the players for their effort and commitment, emphasizing that they had given everything on the pitch. He believes the performance can provide an important foundation for the remainder of the season.
The manager also highlighted the youthfulness of his squad. Rather than allowing the late disappointment to overshadow the performance, he focused on the character shown by his players.
According to Jaissle, the Newcastle team displayed the intensity and aggressive style that he wants them to develop. He was particularly pleased with their willingness to play on the front foot and attack vertically.
The German coach described the unity within the group as another positive sign. He said he was proud to see the players functioning as a collective unit and following the tactical approach he had been trying to introduce.
Considering how little time he has had to work with the squad, Jaissle believes the performance was particularly encouraging. He admitted that the atmosphere inside St James’ Park gave him an immediate emotional reaction, describing the experience as one that created genuine excitement.
The energy from the Newcastle supporters clearly made an impression on the new manager. He explained that the atmosphere in the stadium created a powerful connection between the fans and the players, with the supporters providing energy that the team could then take onto the pitch.
Jaissle believes that relationship could become one of Newcastle’s biggest strengths as the season progresses.
For now, however, transfer speculation will continue to dominate discussions around the club. Newcastle still have work to do in the transfer market, but the manager’s response to Schmeichel makes one thing clear: if Manchester United genuinely want Lewis Hall, they should not expect Newcastle to simply open the door.
Hall’s age, contract length and growing reputation make him a valuable asset, while Newcastle’s desire to build a young and competitive squad means the defender is likely to remain an important part of Jaissle’s plans.
Manchester United may therefore have to look elsewhere if Newcastle refuse to negotiate. For Jaissle, the message could hardly have been clearer: when it comes to Lewis Hall, there is currently “no chance” of an easy departure.