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Manchester United could not land Lewis Hall this summer, but the bigger question is whether they were ever genuinely in the running.

Hall has now signed a new contract with Newcastle United, with the English defender — who has made 107 appearances for the Magpies since joining in 2023 — committing his future to the club until 2031.

Manchester United tried to sign the left-back during the summer after securing Champions League football under Michael Carrick and aiming to build further on that progress.

But as Hall made clear in his message to Newcastle supporters — “There’s never been a moment where I doubted how much I love being here,” — it is evident that the Red Devils were never likely to succeed.

The Magpies released a video on X this morning in which Hall spoke about his bond with Newcastle. In doing so, he effectively explained why Manchester United’s interest was never enough to tempt him away.

“So, my Dad was born up here,” Hall said. “It just sort of embedded it into - that’s who we supported. I didn’t have a choice, really.

“There’s never been a moment where I doubted how much I love being here, and how much I love playing for Newcastle,” the Englishman added.

“It means so much to play at St. James’ Park every week, it’s obviously a massive thing for me. Every time I step on the pitch I want to do my best…. I never really take it for granted.

“I want to do well for the football club, for the city,” concluded the 22-year-old. By his own admission, Hall is a lifelong Toon supporter, despite growing up in the South, and that made his long-term future at Newcastle seem secure all along.

Soon after his first Premier League outing of the season against Liverpool — a match in which Hall turned in another typically solid display but also conceded a stoppage-time penalty to Dominik Szoboszlai — new manager Matthias Jaissle was asked about Manchester United’s attempts to sign him.

Speaking to Viaplay after the game, Jaissle gave a swift and emphatic answer. “No chance, no chance,” said the Newcastle boss.

Now that Hall is under contract until 2031, his comments in the extension interview make it even more obvious why Manchester United never had much hope of signing their £35 million transfer target.

“I obviously have a family connection with the club… [and] one of the main reasons I play is to make my family proud. I know how much it means to them to watch me playing for Newcastle,” Hall said.

“The fanbase and the support… it’s the best in the league. To be able to bring joy to their faces, it’s a big thing for me.

“I think we can go on to achieve really big things,” the Englishman concluded. Newcastle are currently seventh in the Premier League table, four points ahead of the Red Devils. So while Carrick’s side have missed out on their target, they have also not managed to show Hall that he is missing anything by staying where he is.