TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan says he is “surprised” that Chelsea will allow Newcastle to sign Lewis Hall on an initial loan deal.

There is an obligation to buy the 18-year-old at the end of the season but the structure of the agreement means the Magpies can avoid any problems with Financial Fairplay. Jordan doesn’t understand why Chelsea sanctioned such a move:

“I’m surprised that Chelsea would want to be facilitating any solutions to Newcastle’s particular questions but that’s the reality of commercial business.”

From Newcastle’s perspective, the arrangement perfectly suits the club, as it enables them to strengthen a key area of the pitch without breaking the bank.

Signing a left-back was always one of Eddie Howe’s main priorities, and they will now have an extremely promising young player in the squad who can provide competition for the likes of Dan Burn.

The financial details of Hall’s transfer

It is believed that the teenager will stay on loan at St James’ Park until the end of June when his move to Tyneside will become permanent.

The Magpies will then pay an initial £28m for Hall, but that could reportedly rise to £35m when add-ons are included. There has been no detail given on whether any loan fee is involved but it looks like Newcastle have secured the defender’s services without paying anything upfront.

Have Newcastle completed their business for the summer?

Howe had expressed his desire to bring in one more player before the transfer window closed, and it seems he has got his man in Hall.

With four other players (including Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Yankuba Minteh) having arrived in recent months, the club have managed to reinforce the first-team squad with a crop of players who all have the potential to get better under Howe’s guidance.