Newcastle must tie down the “future England captain”

The shift from Eddie Howe to Matthias Jaissle is still in its infancy at Newcastle United, but there is no question that the screws on intensity and “vertical” football have been tightened.

However, the German’s tactical plans have been restricted by a summer of upheaval. Eddie Howe’s departure at the end of July came as a result of so many sales: Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes all left, following Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool for £125m the year before.

It would be fair to say that this new-look Toon team have stabilised at the start of the season, and a factor behind that would be the success in keeping hold of Lewis Hall and extending his contract at St. James’ Park.

Why Lewis Hall’s new contract is such big news for Newcastle

This summer, Newcastle lost all their superstars to rival clubs. Well, almost all of them. Hall remains at St. James’ Park, and what’s more, technical director Ross Wilson has succeeded in striking a new deal for the 21-year-old, who continues to go from strength to strength.

Manchester United’s vested interest was strong, but the Magpies resisted their Premier League rivals’ advances throughout the summer, making it clear that they would not entertain his sale.

Keeping onto the £70m-rated left-back appears to have been a good decision. He has made a strong start to the season under Jaissle’s wing, and looks even more robust in his general play.

Hall is a machine, never tired, dynamic on the ball, tenacious when pitted against an opponent on the move. He has been hailed as having “all the attributes to be one of the best left-backs in the world” by ex-Toon teammate Kieran Trippier.

However, Hall isn’t the only young Magpie who needs cementing at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle must agree new deal with the next Lewis Hall

Hall will dominate English football for years to come – and now, Newcastle have ensured that the cards are in their favour in keeping him under their control.

Now, they must do the same with Tino Livramento, whose £50k-per-week deal expires at the end of the 2027/28 campaign.

Livramento has established himself as one of England’s most talented right-backs over the past few years, but he has been blighted by injuries, only making two substitute appearances in the Premier League this season.

Still, the 23-year-old is explosive and well-balanced, with a technical level that led to intense interest from Arsenal at the start of summer. Mikel Arteta’s champions explored a move for the £70m-rated talent, with the price tag mooted showing that he is on a level with Hall – perhaps even ahead of him, for he only started 14 times in the league last year due to injury and is still considered in a similar ballpark.

It’s imperative that Newcastle extend his stay. Kieran Trippier left the club at the end of last season, and while Jaissle welcomed Amar Dedic from Benfica for £30m, there’s no question that a fully-fit Livramento would outperform him.

Recognised for his immense ball-winning ability, Livramento is also a force when up and running. His tenacity and willingness to embrace the attacking and defensive sides of the full-back’s game mark him as one of the most exciting prospects in the world, and a good run on the fitness front could finally see him realise his potential on Tyneside.

After all, Theo Walcott once hailed him as a “future England captain” when both plied their trade for Southampton, and he has shown during intervals on Tyneside that he has the potential to become a superstar of such calibre.

There’s no doubt that Livramento has suffered on the injury front over the past few years, but he remains one of the most talented young English players out there.

Had fitness issues not derailed his World Cup campaign before it had even started, Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions may have been in better nick during the knockout stages.

He has entered the penultimate year of his contract at St. James’ Park, and now that Hall is secured, Livramento must become Wilson’s priority.