Lewis Hall tells of 'ambition' amid Man Utd link as Newcastle miss out on Champions League

Lewis Hall tells of ambition as he emerges as a top target for Manchester United with Newcastle missing out on Champions League football.

The 21-year-old left-back understood to be considering his future at Newcastle United following a frustrating end to the season.

Hall is believed to be unhappy with how the latter stages of the campaign unfolded, with manager Eddie Howe preferring the experienced Dan Burn ahead of him in crucial fixtures.

The slight was then compounded at international level. Hall was left "devastated" after Thomas Tuchel omitted him from England's 26-man World Cup squad, despite being nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.

It is a bitter end to a season that, at its best, showed exactly what Hall is capable of.

And Hall's ambition has always been clear to further himself as he revealed when he came back from a serious foot injury.

He said: "It makes me want to come back and sort of prove a point again, and show everyone what I can bring back to the team. I want to show people what I was doing before I was injured and, if anything, come back a better, stronger player for it."

And his quality against top teams is evident. When Newcastle beat Arsenal at St James' Park last November, Alan Shearer was effusive.

"The two full-backs, Livramento and Lewis Hall, were absolutely outstanding and nullified any threat from Arsenal's two wingers," Shearer said.

Those are the performances that have attracted United's attention. Director of football Jason Wilcox is a significant admirer and is understood to be pushing the club to move seriously for him this summer.

Hall is United's primary target at left-back as they prepare for their return to the Champions League, viewing him as the long-term successor to Luke Shaw.

His ability to drift into central midfield and dictate play from deep positions has earned him particular admirers within the United hierarchy.

Shaw defied his injury record by starting every Premier League game this season, but at 30, with backup Tyrell Malacia having left, United need to plan for the long term.

United are not without competition — Bayern Munich have also turned their attention to Hall after missing out on Anthony Gordon to Barcelona — but Hall is understood to have no desire to move abroad.

The obstacle is price. Newcastle value Hall at around £55 million and are in no rush to sell as they see him as central to their long-term plans.

But the club's failure to qualify for Champions League football next season has raised serious questions over the futures of several key players — and Hall could be among those heading for the exit.