Leeds United are on the hunt for midfield reinforcements ahead of the 2025/26 season. The Premier League newcomers have held a long-standing interest in Newcastle United star Sean Longstaff.
Leeds Live understands the Whites have had three bids rejected for Longstaff this summer. The latest offer, believed to be an initial £10m plus a further £2m in potential add-ons, was knocked back last week. Sources in the north east say the Magpies are holding out for a higher fee than Leeds have offered to help ensure they continue to navigate profitability and sustainability (PSR) regulations. Any fee received for Longstaff would represent ‘pure profit’ for PSR because the midfielder progressed through the ranks at St James' Park.
Longstaff, who has made over 200 appearances for his boyhood club, has not started a Premier League match since December 12, 2024. As things stand, he is the Magpies' sixth-choice midfielder.
Is Longstaff worth more than £10m? Or should the Whites pursue other midfield targets? Our writers have given their thoughts on United's Longstaff pursuit.
Isaac Johnson
I think paying out a few more million is worth it for what Longstaff will offer Leeds. More than 170 games of Premier League experience, a steady presence in midfield and a hard worker. There's not many with all three facets Leeds can feasibly get this summer.
Newcastle, admittedly mindful of their Champions League homegrown quota, look willing to sell at the right price given he would be a pure profit sale with a year left on his contract. The player himself is open to a move. It’s not like Leeds need to move mountains.
Anything more than £15m is a bit hefty - but then United’s midfield is severely lacking in Premier League experience. The few more million would be worth it.
Dom Howson
Longstaff is an experienced Premier League campaigner. His minutes were limited last year, but Newcastle boss Eddie Howe appreciates Longstaff’s tactical understanding and work rate. At 27, Longstaff should be entering the peak years of his career.
But a £12m package seems fair market value for a player who would bring aggression and bite to Leeds' midfield operation but not creativity or a huge amount of goals. There are areas in Longstaff's game that remain a work in progress.
Leeds managed to lower Jaka Bijol's asking price and are clearly trying to repeat the trick with Longstaff, who has entered the final 12 months of his Newcastle contract. The deal has to be right for Leeds and the 49ers. If Newcastle aren't prepared to budge on Longstaff's valuation, it is time to move on and look at other players on their shortlist.
James Smailes
If you're going to buy British, you pay more. It shouldn't be the case, but seemingly like everything else these days, it just costs more. Leeds will surely have known that going in and what has surprised me about this is the fact they were so far away with their first two bids.
The third is not thought to be miles away, with maybe two or three million more needed to get it over the line. Is Longstaff worth that? I'd argue yes. Swapping Yorkshire sport for my North East sport cap, I know full well how much he is thought of in Newcastle, by the fans, the staff and the players.
He's a great character to have in the dressing room, one which would inject not just terrific Premier League experience into the squad, but a touch of quality too. You're going to have to work some real magic to get a 27-year-old British vastly experienced Premier League midfielder for £10m. I think Leeds should move quickly to try find an agreement on this deal and if it cost a fraction more pay it.
The fact a Champions League team are pushing to keep hold of a player like Longstaff in the face of an opportunity to cash in on pure profit on the PSR books tells me one thing. They know they can't get a replacement for anything like that and it's worth more to keep him around.
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