Roy Keane claims £75m Man Utd transfer target is 'not the answer'

Lewis Hall is ‘not the answer’ for Manchester United, says club legend Roy Keane (Picture: The Overlap)

Roy Keane has voiced his concerns about Manchester United’s rumoured interest in Lewis Hall, claiming the Newcastle star is ‘not the answer’ at left-back.

United identified Hall as their top target at left-back at the start of the summer, with the club’s hierarchy keen to bring in support and competition for Luke Shaw.

The Red Devils had also been linked with the likes of Jorge Salinas, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Antonee Robinson across the window, while an approach was made for Manchester City at the eleventh hour on deadline day.

However, Michael Carrick was ultimately left without any reinforcements at full-back, meaning academy product Harry Amass is the only other specialist back-up for Shaw in the squad, outside of makeshift options Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui.

Reports on Monday indicated Newcastle may have been prepared to do ‘consider’ a deal for Hall had they received an offer upwards of £75million for the 21-year-old England international.

The Old Trafford giants are expected to renew their pursuit of Hall again in 2027 as part of INEOS’ three-phase squad rebuild.

‘Was it sloppy with the Rayan Ait-Nouri one, to get dragged into that with two hours to go? It’s not a great look is it?’ former United and England right-back Gary Neville pondered on the latest episode of The Overlap.

Newcastle and England star Hall was United’s number one target at left-back (Picture: MI News/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

The Red Devils reportedly held talks to sign Ait-Nouri on deadline day (Picture: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)

‘Everyone’s been talking about a left-back, centre-back all summer and then with two hours to go you’ve had a nibble.’

In response, Neville’s long-time team-mate and captain Keane suggested United’s apparent late move for Ait-Nouri smacked of ‘desperation’.

‘You’re desperate, they are desperate,’ the iconic ex-United skipper chimed in.

‘For a club like United, you shouldn’t be getting too desperate with two hours to go.

‘Having said that, some mad deals have happened previously in the last minute and it’s worked out well for the club, not just for United, so I think that’s the industry.

‘I wouldn’t be too hard on them but the problem is that when you get desperate at the end.’

United are expected to return for Hall next summer (Picture: Images/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

When the subject of United’s interest in Hall was raised, Keane replied: ‘I don’t think Hall is the answer. He’s not bad, don’t get me wrong.

‘I don’t think he’s a good defender.

‘We’re going back to that [conversation]: what’s your priority in a defender now?

Carrick’s side return to action away to Everton this weekend (Picture: Getty)

‘Of course you want him to be comfortable in possession, of course, but first and foremost, they can defend because that’s what your challenge is now.

‘Whatever it is with your attacking players, “Listen lads, two midfielders and an attacking four, go and win us the game”, but we’ve got to be solid defensively”, even if it’s sacrificing being good on the ball.’

United bosses prioritised strengthening in central midfield long before the transfer window had opened for business, with a host of high-profile names linked as potential solutions at the Theatre of Dreams.

United reinforced their midfield by signing Santos, Tielemans and Baleba (Picture: Getty)

The Red Devils would go on to sign Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba from Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton respectively for a combined fee of around £175m.