Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
To the delight of Leeds United fans, the club have finally got a deal over the line for Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff as David Ornstein provided a new update on Tuesday night.
The belief was that 27-year-old Longstaff may not be available after Leeds’ latest bid was rejected. The Whites had tabled an offer worth an initial £10m for Longstaff with £2m in add-ons on top of the initial.
But Newcastle rejected the bid, and it saw Leeds officials unsure if they would be able to get a deal done. Ornstein reported previously that Leeds were close to being at the end of the price range for Longstaff.
Since then, talks have continued and the Newcastle board expected a deal to go through at some stage for Longstaff. Especially, with the midfielder out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
Sean Longstaff ahead of Newcastle's clash against Man City.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
The fee Leeds are paying Newcastle to sign Sean Longstaff
Well, it has now emerged that Leeds have made a fourth bid to sign Longstaff. The Athletic’s Ornstein was the man to deliver the news to Leeds fans once again, confirming that there is an agreement in principle.
Ornstein says Leeds and Newcastle have agreed a deal and Longstaff was happy to go. It comes just a few days after Longstaff scored the first in a 4-0 Newcastle win over Carlisle during a pre-season friendly.
The transfer expert confirmed on The Athletic that Newcastle would receive an initial £12m from Leeds, an increase of £2m on the previous bid. It is also said they will now pay £3m in add-ons for Longstaff.
Sean Longstaff celebrates Newcastle United's Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Where does Longstaff rank in Leeds’ biggest signings?
So, Leeds are paying an overall fee of £15m to land Longstaff from Newcastle. Even if it is a £3m increase on their initial offer, it is still widely considered a bargain for an established Premier League player.
It sees Leeds match the fee they paid for Jaka Bijol, and take their summer spending to a total of £45m this summer. Longstaff is the club’s joint-14th biggest signing, alongside Bijol, behind Helder Costa.
Initial reports of Newcastle wanting £20m for Longstaff means Leeds have got themselves a bargain and The Toon have been willing to compromise, in order to bring in the cash for their academy product.