MATTHIAS JAISSLE has fallen in “love” with Lewis Hall.
Manchester United have suffered a hammer blow with the news their top target to replace Luke Shaw has agreed a new five-year contract at Newcastle.
3
3
The 22-year-old left-back’s stunning form has been rewarded with the package making him one of the club’s top earners.
Hall missed out on the World Cup following a dip in form after being switched to right-back under previous boss Eddie Howe towards the end of last term.
But he has been one of the key men in new manager Jaissle’s unbeaten start at Newcastle.
The German said: “Without speaking about his contract, I can just say that I’m in love with what I’ve seen so far from him.
READ MORE ON NEWCASTLE
GEORDIE JOE-Y
Willock enjoying ‘new lease of life’ under Jaissle after struggles under Howe
Welcome player
Join Sun Vegas now and claim a 100% deposit match bonus and 100 free spins
“It’s an amazing player with huge potential still, and this makes me so happy to, hopefully, have him here for the next few years and the long term.
“He’s fitting so good to this identity, how we want to play football, and again, he’s doing an excellent job.”
Another player Jaissle hopes to have long-term is Lukas Hornicek. The Czech Republic goalie, 24, arrived in a £25.7m deal from Portuguese club Braga just days before Jaissle took charge.
Hornicek has made 13 saves across his first three Premier League games, the joint-most in the top-flight along with Ipswich’s Kjell Scherpen.
Most read in Sport
KIS GOODBYE
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis sacks his 25TH manager in 16 years
BOX OFFICE
Premier League Boxing Day kick-off times revealed including dreaded 8pm start
SKY’S THE LIMIT
Sky Sports ‘on verge’ of reclaiming rights to major sporting event from TNT
KEEPER COKE RAP
Ex-Man City star sentenced to two years but dodges prison after £30k scam
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
The star is looking for a third clean sheet in Black and White at Leeds on Monday and Jaissle is delighted with what he has seen.
He said: “An amazing job so far. Amazing signing. A young lad as well. It’s not easy coming in the Premier League, performing already on a high level, dealing with the pressure. As a keeper, it’s something else as well.
“We are really pleased, and we hope that he can progress in the same way.
3
“I like him a lot as he’s so calm, but so mature as well. That gives the whole team this confidence.
“Having someone between the posts with that confidence and showing not even a sign of nervousness, that helps a lot.”
Meanwhile, Jaissle eased fears over fellow summer signing Amar Dedic’s injury. The right-back came off in the Carabao Cup win at Millwall with a hamstring issue but the Mags head coach says “it doesn’t look too serious”.
He added: “I treat these things really confidential, and I hope my staff too, and that nothing comes out. Because first of all, it’s about the player and it’s about his health.
“But what I said already after Millwall, it doesn’t look too serious.”