Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff has been linked with a move away from St James’ Park this summer.
Will he leave - or won’t he? It’s an ongoing saga that could well unlock some valuable PSR headroom for the Magpies in a transformative summer, or, in fact, see them retain a player who be a valuable squad component, particularly with Champions League football around the corner and a ‘club trained’ quota to contend with.
The Magpies’ midfielder has been subject to interest from newly promoted Leeds United and seemingly upwardly mobile Everton in recent months, and Eddie Howe was coy when asked about the midfielder’s future recently.
Eddie Howe on Sean Longstaff future
Speaking in May, the NUFC head coach said: “Sean has a contract for next year, so the control is very much in his hands in terms of what he wants to do with his long-term future. But we’re certainly delighted to have him as one of our players.
“I don’t think I have to motivate him. I shouldn’t have to motivate him, he should motivate himself. He’s here representing the club that he loves, so there should be no issue with motivation. He has to be ready to take a chance when it comes.
“I think any train of thought I have to motivate anyone, I can’t do that with 25 players. Sean is motivated. He’s been brilliant behind the scenes and he is training well. He’s got undoubted qualities.”
Hard yards for Longstaff
And while all eyes are on where he may or may not go this summer, the player has clearly been leaving no stone unturned ahead of his July 7 return to training at Newcastle’s training base.
The Geordie posted a video of himself training - which can be watched above - at the training pitches of Cochrane Park in Newcastle.
Why Longstaff exit would be felt by the Magpies
Longstaff, as it stands, is the only player, over the age of 21, who qualifies as a home grown player in UEFA squad rules. Keeping Longstaff helps to flesh out the squad ahead of an eight-game campaign, which could extend, should the Magpies finish in the top 24 of the competition, which starts in September.
Longstaff is also one of only six United central midfielders in the group, and the loss of him, or fellow exit-linked Joe Willock, would require players to be added to flesh out that department. Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Lewis Miley make up the group.
But the player is thought to want to first-team football, or at least more than he saw on Tyneside last term.
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