Newcastle United could be facing a genuinely tough summer battle, with reports suggesting the club is prepared to rival Manchester United and Tottenham for Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams, as they brace for the likely departure of Lewis Hall.
A Painful Rebuild Already Underway
Newcastle’s summer has already been defined by significant upheaval following a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that saw them finish 12th under Eddie Howe. The club has since entered a major rebuilding phase, with several important names already heading for the exit. Sandro Tonali completed a £100 million move to Tottenham, while Anthony Gordon departed for Barcelona in a £69.3 million deal.
Hall Set to Follow Suit
Adding to that list of departures, Manchester United continue to show strong interest in left-back Lewis Hall, viewing the 21-year-old as a long-term successor to Luke Shaw. Reports suggest Hall himself is open to the move to Old Trafford, having struggled for regular game time toward the end of last season. Newcastle are understandably reluctant to lose yet another key player after already sanctioning multiple major exits this summer, but keeping hold of Hall against United’s interest looks increasingly difficult.
Enter Neco Williams
With Hall’s departure looking likely, Howe has already identified a replacement target. According to Football Insider, Newcastle are prepared to go head-to-head with Manchester United in the race to sign Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams. His versatility is a major selling point, with the 25-year-old capable of operating at both right-back and left-back, giving Howe genuine flexibility on either side of his defence.
Why Williams Is in Such High Demand
Williams enjoyed a standout 2025-26 campaign at the City Ground, starting 37 Premier League matches and being named Nottingham Forest’s Player of the Season. The Wales international contributed two goals and three assists while playing more than 3,200 minutes across the league campaign, numbers that reflect both his consistency and his growing importance to Forest’s side.
A Genuinely Crowded Race
Newcastle won’t have this pursuit to themselves, though. Manchester United, ironically the same club driving Hall’s potential exit, are also tracking Williams, while Tottenham have shown their own interest in luring him away from the City Ground. Complicating matters further for any interested party, Williams remains under contract until 2029 after signing a new deal last summer, putting Forest in a strong position to dictate terms and resist any lowball approaches.
A Genuine Three-Way Battle Looming
Should Newcastle step up their pursuit of Williams this summer, they could find themselves locked in a genuinely difficult three-way battle against both Manchester United and Tottenham, two clubs with considerable financial resources and their own strong motivations to get a deal done.
What Happens Next?
With Hall’s Old Trafford move gathering pace and Williams emerging as Newcastle’s preferred replacement, the coming weeks look set to bring real clarity on both situations. For Newcastle, successfully navigating this swap, losing one full-back while landing a genuine upgrade in Williams, would represent a smart and pragmatic piece of business amid an otherwise turbulent summer.
Newcastle fans, would Williams be an adequate replacement for Hall, or are you worried about losing out to two direct Premier League rivals? Let us know your thoughts below.
