· December 13 2024, 19:30
Whether we like it or not, Newcastle United are going to have to sell players before they can consider adding quality to the squad.
Unfortunately, as we pointed out earlier, Newcastle only really have two types of players on the books right now. Those who could raise a significant amount of money but whose departure could really hamper progress, and those we could afford to lose but aren't likely to bring in any meaningful revenue.
One player who falls into the latter category is Sean Longstaff. However, for Longy, things are ever so slightly different as he is an academy graduate and any money we could bring in for him would represent pure profit on the bottom line and will, therefore, make his move more worthwhile in terms of Profit and Sustainability Rules.
However, Longstaff is a favourite of Eddie Howe and the lad bleeds black and white, so a move will be very hard to do.
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Sean Longstaff - Should he stay or should he go?
January could be a huge month for Sean Longstaff
Sean Longstaff's contract is due to expire in the summer, but there's a strong belief he will be offered a one-year extension before it runs out.
However, there are also those who believe Longstaff could be sold in January to raise much-needed funds.
Longstaff has already made his position clear that he'd love to stay at the club, and indeed Eddie Howe wants him to stay, so this could be the first big power struggle we witness in January.
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Newcastle could risk losing Sean Longstaff for free in the summer
With six months left on his deal, Newcastle aren't exactly going to be raking in the money for Longstaff should they sell him in January, but the homegrown part of the deal does make up for the shortfall.
Longstaff is very aware that nothing is permanent and in a recent interview (via The Chronicle) he did state how he's prepared should the day come when he has to move on.
“I want to be valued as a player, I want to be appreciated as a player and whether it’s here great. If it’s not here and it’s somewhere else, it’ll be somewhere else.
“In a way I live day to day, game to game and I just try and take in every game. I get to go to work every day and spend it with my best friends, I don’t know what’s coming ahead, I don’t know what’s coming down the line, I just try to embrace every day and enjoy every minute because ultimately it won’t last forever.”
Now that Newcastle have lost a game in which Longstaff started, putting to bed the "lucky charm" narrative, we're absolutely fine with Longy being sold, but it would be a massive waste were we to let his contract run down and he leaves on a free which is why January will be massive for his future. A decision must be made.