After close to a decade as part of the senior squad, it’s looking increasingly likely that one Newcastle star will be moving on to pastures new in the summer.
With intense competition in the squad for places, and the club always looking for fresh opportunities for PSR freedom, this player’s departure makes sense at this moment in time.
But with bad injury luck seemingly always following Newcastle around, is this potential departure one the club really make?
Local lad linked with exit
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According to TalkSport, Sean Longstaff is reportedly being eyed up by Everton for a summer transfer.
The Toffees’ boss David Moyes is said to be a keen admirer in the midfielder, and with the ageing Doucoure and Gueye in the heart of Everton’s midfield, Longstaff could easily break into the first team.
An ever-dependable midfielder who has shone in multiple Newcastle squads under numerous managers, few can deny Longstaff is a valuable asset to a number of the Premier League’s bottom half sides such as Everton.
Longstaff open to move?
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After losing his place in the Newcastle first team since the return of Sandro Tonali and promotion of Lewis Miley, minutes have been hard to come by for the local lad.
TalkSport reports that Longstaff is open to a move away from his boyhood club that would assure him of some game time, having dropped down the midfield pecking order on Tyneside in recent months.
With 167 league games under his belt (and even a memorable Champions League goal against PSG under his belt), Longstaff’s age and experience on the surface certainly warrant at least semi-regular Premier League football.
The right time to go?
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Whilst Newcastle have been victims of the complexities of PSR and selling homegrown talent in recent memory, a Longstaff transfer could have fantastic financial benefits for Eddie Howe and co. in the transfer market.
“Newcastle know selling their hometown hero would represent 100 per cent profit under PSR rules as he came through their academy.”
Though Newcastle’s pursuit of silverware perhaps warrants more ‘squad’ players of Longstaff’s level for rotation purposes, unfortunately few can argue that Longstaff’s position in the midfield hierarchy leaves him as one of the prime candidates for a summer departure.
A fantastic servant for the club, the FFP-related freedom that a multi-million pound move would afford Newcastle could have immense potential for the Magpies to act in what’s shaping up to be an intriguing summer market.