Gary Lineker has admitted he found Thomas Tuchel's decision to omit Newcastle United star Lewis Hall from England's World Cup squad "hard to understand." The former Three Lions striker questioned safe-guarding certain defensive positions while overlooking a player who has excelled at left-back throughout the current Premier League campaign.
The 12 games of the Thomas Tuchel era have yielded mixed results and performances from England. They remain one of the best sides in international football, even if they haven't played particularly well for extended stretches since the Sir Gareth Southgate era. That said, they are among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup for several reasons.
Manchester United are preparing for a massive summer window with eight key targets identified to overhaul the squad. From replacing Casemiro to fixing the left-back dilemma, the Red Devils are trying to move early to secure high-profile Premier League and Bundesliga talent before the market inflates.
Newcastle United are bracing themselves for a summer of heavy interest in Lewis Hall, with three Premier League rivals all firmly in the hunt. Scouts from Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal have reportedly been "closely monitoring" the defender as they weigh up big-money moves at the end of the season.
Newcastle were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Barcelona on Tuesday. Eddie Howe's side looked on course to record a famous victory when Harvey Barnes gave them the lead in the 86th minute, only for Malick Thiaw to concede a stoppage-time penalty which Lamine Yamal converted with the final kick of the game.