THE bizarre reason why Chelsea have secretly been supporting Newcastle has been revealed.
Blues fans will not be cheering on the Toon when they go head-to-head on Monday night.
However, for the rest of the season they will be hoping Newcastle pick up enough points to finish above 15th.
That's because of an unusual clause in the deal that saw Lewis Hall move to St James' Park from Chelsea in the summer.
The 19-year-old joined the club for an initial loan fee of £4million with an obligation to pay a further £24m to make it a permanent switch.
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But the transfer has not yet been completed as the deal depends on Newcastle's league finish, according to The Telegraph.
They need to end the season above 15th in order for the move to go through.
Chelsea will be desperate for them to do enough to sign Hall amid financial pressures.
Todd Boehly needs to balance the books this summer in order to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Selling Hall will count as 100 per cent profit as he is a homegrown player.
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Newcastle currently sit eighth in the table and are 14 points above Brentford in 15th.
Hall has played just 11 times in all competitions for Eddie Howe's side this season.
Reports suggest that director of football Dan Ashworth was the driving force behind the signing.