Report: Newcastle could now look to loan out £35m player after barely featuring this season

The curious case of Lewis Hall could take another turn as Newcastle United considers loaning out the youngster next season.

Newcastle fans were giddy when it was announced that Lewis Hall was going to be signing for the club in the summer as they had been very impressed with what they'd seen from Hall in his cameos for Chelsea. The fact that he's also a lifelong Newcastle fan didn't hurt his case either.

However, as we head into the back end of the season, Hall has made just 11 appearances for his new club scoring once in the Carabao Cup. It's hardly the move he dreamt of, nor has it been the signing fans were so excited about.

Lewis Hall could end up costing Newcastle £35million

While Hall is on loan from Chelsea this season there is a clause in the loan that means Newcastle must fork out £28million for Hall at the end of the season to make the move permanent, and that figure could also rise to £35million if certain conditions are met. If those conditions are appearance-based then I think we'll be fine.

Whatever the reason for Hall's lack of game time this season, it now sounds as though he'll get even fewer minutes under his belt for the Magpies next season as iNews are reporting that the club may loan him out to aid his development.

The rumour is that Eddie Howe is less than impressed by Hall's defensive capabilities which is why he's hardly been used this season, and when he has, he's often been deployed on the left wing.

Lewis Hall is part of Newcastle's long-term plans

Eddie Howe has repeatedly reiterated that Hall remains a part of Newcastle's long-term aim, so it's unlikely he will be sold in the summer, but talk of loaning him out must surely be a dent to the young lad's confidence.

We honestly wouldn't rule out the idea that he ends up going back to Chelsea. The criteria to make the move permanent has yet to be met by all accounts, and it does have a feel that Howe is trying his hardest to make sure that it doesn't happen. It definitely feels like Hall was part of the power struggle between Howe and Dan Ashworth with Hall being an Ashworth signing that Howe didn't want.

Of course, that's just speculation on our end, but something just doesn't feel right about this whole thing.